Wangaratta Chronicle 110823

WHERE THE BLOODY HELL ARE YA?

Housi Gr h

Housing plan for Greta Rd Schools’ homeless suppor t support

Events jackpot

THE rural city is set to cash in on an economic boost on water and land, with two major state sporting events this weekend.

Nearly 700 participants overall are expected to make their way to Wangaratta and surrounding areas for the Victorian Country Short Course Swimming Championships and the state senior and junior cycling time trials and road race championships.

Two state titles this weekend prove an economic boost T t t titl thi k d p i b t

BY BAILEY ZIMMERMANN bzimmermann@ nemedia.com.au

Both events have been held in the rural city in recent years, but have never clashed on the same weekend.

It will be the biggest

Short Course Championships since entries were recorded in 2008, with 34 regional Victorian swimming clubs to be represented including Wangaratta’s own Wangaratta Amateur Swimming Club and Wangaratta Stingrays.

On the back of the success of the Long Course Championships in January, the Short Course event will see

around 570 swimmers with their families, coaches and swimming officials descend on the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre, with events starting tomorrow.

The city’s outer limits will see some of the fastest in the state on a road bike with the Winton Time Trial State Championships on Saturday and the combined AusCycling Junior Road State

Championships and the seniors Ronde Van Taminick road race on Sunday.

Just over 200 riders are set to tackle the turbulent roads with strong fields boasting current and future international representatives.

Mayor Dean Rees said the Rural City of Wangaratta council estimated an economic boost of around $100,000 to the local economy

from the weekend’s events.

“Sporting events provide a great cultural, social, and economic boost to our community and we are proud of our great track record in attracting and hosting local, state, and national events here,” he said.

“Wangaratta’s reputation as a major events location is growing and with it our sporting facilities and visitor economy.”

■ Continued page 2

Page 3

Page 4 Sport

KYLIE and Andy Coatsworth are on the lookout for a part of family history in a blue pick up Dodge, previously owned by Kylie’s father Barney Watson who sold the vehicle in the area 16 years ago.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Reid re-signs Reid for 2024

Couple search for a part of family history

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

LOCAL Andy Coatsworth is on the search for a part of family history, and he’s after some help.

Having last been sighted with the family 16 years ago, Andy has been on the lookout for a particular blue Dodge pick up truck, previously owned by his late father-inlaw, Dennis ‘Barney’ Watson, to re-purchase and restore.

Through research and numerous callouts on social media, Andy received photos of the vehicle and confirmation that Barney was the last man to have registered the vehicle when he last owned it in 2007.

Andy said he is incredibly keen to find and restore the blue pickup, and is offering a $500 finder’s fee for whoever can locate the vehicle.

“About 14-15 months ago I was on the couch surfing the web just looking for old cars and I saw an old Dodge, it was red, it was similar, but it wasn’t the same and I said

to Kylie ‘I want to find Barn’s car’,” he said.

“It’s sentimental, they’re a nice old truck but there are a lot sexier trucks out there to restore and do up but that’s not what drives me for this one.

“We’ve tried local and surrounding Facebook pages and whenever we put it out we always get plenty of good will… there have been no definite leads or sightings at this point.”

Andy said Barney owned the Dodge for about 10 years, mostly running errands around town.

“He would take people for a ride in it, take the kids to the basketball or down the street, not that they really wanted to be seen in the Dodge,” he said.

“It was Barn’s [car], that’s the whole driving force, it’s got a bit of a history in the family and if I find it we’ll do something about it.”

It’s believed Barney sold the car to a farmer around

30km from Wangaratta, who intended on using the Dodge around his farm.

“I think he just had enough of it, it wasn’t running beautifully, he’d be going down the street with the kids in the car and would go ‘here’s a trick’ and the gearstick would be in his hand,” Andy said.

The family own a collection of old Fords from XRs, XDs and XWs while also owning a 1975 Volkswagon Kombie van.

Andy said it was time they became owners of a Dodge.

“Finding it has been the hard thing, obviously because it has been so long since we decided to look for it,” he said.

“I’ve always liked old cars; they’ve always done something for me… but I’ve never had an old car that’s actually got a story and I think that’s where I’m coming from.”

Anyone who may have information on the vehicle can reach out to Andy via mobile: 0447 228 488.

DOING IT FOR BARN’: Kylie and Andy Coatsworth are on the search for Kylie’s late father Barney’s old blue Dodge pick up truck, which was last seen in the family 16 years ago.

TARGET ACQUIRED: This blue pick up Dodge is the target of Andy Coatsworth search, and is offering a $500 finders fee to anyone who can help track it down.

Rural city’s state events jackpot

■ From page 1

General manager of Gateway Hotel, Wendy Lester said the hotel has been booked out for this weekend since the championships were announced back in January.

“It’s massive, because a lot of people are here for three days, some are here for four days, and they’ve got multiple people that’ll eat and see things in the region,” she said.

“There’s not a lot of events that bring families to the region and this is one that definitely strikes on the calendar for us and it’s good to get people travelling.

“I tried to get a room for someone around the area yesterday and I couldn’t, everywhere is booked out.”

Cr Rees said council were thrilled to be able to support the short course swimming championships with a $5000 grant through the Tourism Event Grant Program.

“The capital projects we have undertaken in the recent past, such as the swimming pool development, and the current WSAC expansion, ensure our facilities will continue to attract sporting events,” he said.

“It also means local people have access to

the best facilities we are able to provide – it’s a win-win for our community.

“Rural City of Wangaratta wishes all competitors well this weekend.”

For more information on the Short Course Swimming Championships you can visit the Swimming Victoria website via: https:// vic.swimming.org.au/ events/victorian-country-sc-championships and for the cycling you can visit the event guide via: https://assets.auscycling.org.au/s3fs-public/2023-08/cccc-techguide-010823.pdf?Versio nId=hcWoK9dAneSc2t2F tjiph02ONBlhSHPJ.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

BIG WEEKEND AHEAD: Representatives from the Wangaratta Sport and Aquatic Centre, Wangaratta Amateur Swimming Club and the Wangaratta Cycling Club (L-R) Tim Dooling, Sadie Skewes, Annabelle Robinson, Riley Corke, Nina Fortaliza, Celia Piesse and Jasmin Thwaites are set for a weekend of state level swimming and cycling action.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Plea could yet come for former Bruck CEO

THE former chief executive officer of Bruck Textiles could seek to make a plea to criminal allegations he entered into an agreement to withhold or reduce access to employee entitlements through the business’ 2014 sale.

Geoffrey Parker, as well as former chair Philip Bart and chief financial officer Ronald Johnson, were in June committed to stand trial before the County Court, after Magistrate Robert Stary found sufficient evidence was available for the allegations to be heard before a jury.

$80m housing project talks with minister

THE planned building of 200 apartment style units at Wangaratta’s former Ovens College site, costing $70-80 million, could be used as a blueprint to help solve the housing crisis across Australia.

Off the back of a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday, MP Helen Haines, Rural City of Wangaratta Mayor Dean Rees, CEO Brendan McGrath and Alan Takle from Nestd - a notfor-profit social enterprise and housing developer - discussed the scope of the affordable housing project with Minister for Housing Julie Collins in Canberra.

Council is looking to secure $3 million via the Regional Housing Infrastructure Fund so initial works to clear the former tech school buildings and underground infrastructure can be established. Nestd is contracted to deliver 200 safe, quality, energy-efficient homes for young people, pensioners, women at risk of homelessness and essential workers at the Greta Road development site.

Dr Haines highlighted that the housing will be designed to run off its own microgrid with solar power, and batteries to store the electricity. There are also plans for a reticu-

BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

lated water system so grey water can be reused to maintain the parklands.

“Minister Collins and her team got a really good understanding about the potential for the Ovens College site in Wangaratta, not only what it can deliver to Wangaratta, but it could be a case study for rural and regional areas across Australia,” she said.

“The proposal for the Ovens College site would go a long way to addressing the lack of social, affordable, and key worker housing in town.

“We just need the tools to unlock funding for the critical infrastructure to make this project a reality.”

Mayor Dean Rees explained that the initial remedial project will cost $3m to $4m and will involve the removal of asbestos filled buildings

and investigation under the ground which could involve removal of contamination.

“Retention tanks for sewage will need to be placed underground as well to cater for new residents and alleviate Wangaratta’s sewer capacity issues,” he said.

“It will be a mixture of social housing, affordable housing and key worker accommodation and it could involve multi-level or single level units.”

“The government is aware that this is a key project but it could be a benchmark for the whole of Australia.”

Dr Haines spoke about the housing crisis to Mr Albanese pointing out it was one of the biggest issues facing regional Australia.

“People from all over Indi speak to me about the lack of housing availability and affordability in our towns,” she said.

“I spoke to the Prime Minister about the housing issues we face in regional Australia, and how the problems and solutions are differ-

ent than those in the cities.

“He listened and acknowledged the work I have done in this area already.”

Dr Haines said that bringing local government to Canberra and getting them to present their unique solutions to the challenges our community is facing is really powerful.

She said the government is listening and hearing the problems that we are facing in regional and rural areas when it comes to housing.

“I am the first to acknowledge that there is no silver bullet to solve the housing crisis in regional Australia,” she said.

“But I have been consulting widely on what the solutions could be and what I’ve heard loud and clear is that funding for critical enabling infrastructure is a major handbrake on housing supply.”

Council was contacted about the housing project details but declined to comment until it received a planning permit application.

On Wednesday at Melbourne County Court, Judicial Registrar Matthew Phillips told Mr Parker’s lawyer, Jason Gullaci SC, his client would be able to seek a sentence indication if he wished before the matter is added to the long trials list later this year.

The trio was charged by the Australian Security and Investments Commission (ASIC) last year, following the company’s sale for $1 to Mr Parker and Mr Johnson’s new business, Australian Textile Mills (ATM) in July 2014.

The sale left up to 60 employees at the Wangaratta textiles mill redundant and without access to entitlements worth $3.48m.

Each of the alleged offenders has previously pleaded not guilty to the allegations they knowingly withheld or reduced access for redundant employees.

Some 22 days’ worth of evidence was heard by the Melbourne Magistrates Court earlier this year, with a number of witnesses crossexamined before the court.

On Wednesday, the County Court heard a number of other witnesses would need to be deposed next month.

JR Phillips ordered an indictment and a draft of the prosecution’s trial openings be filed before the court by November 3, with the matter expected to be added to the court’s long trials list on November 10.

An official trial would likely not commence before the new year.

NEW HOMES ON AGENDA: Rural City of Wangaratta CEO Brendan McGrath, Indi MP Helen Haines, Minister for Housing Julie Collins, Nestd developer Alan Takle and Mayor Dean Rees met to talk about a future housing project in Wangaratta.

SHOW OF SUPPORT: Yarrunga Primary School students (from left) Daneeka Line, Sanity Lacey, Abbey Booth and Sam Longman donned casual clothes as the school raised upwards of $200 at Tuesday’s casual dress day.

CASUAL APPROACH: St Patrick’s Primary School students Sophie Connor, Jack Chynoweth, Alexander Douangphosay and Eliza Prestianni.

WEATHER

IMPORTANT INITIATIVE: Oxley Primary School Kids in Charge Olivia Strack, Scout Dal Zotto and

Nothing casual about school support for homelessness initiative

By RYAN MALCOLM

NEWS TIPS

Office Hours: 5723 0100 After Hours: 5723 0107

Email: edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au Fax: 5721 9447

POSTAL ADDRESS: 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta

GENERAL TELEPHONE INQUIRIES: 5723 0100

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: 5723 0101

DISPLAY ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: 5723 0139

Fax: 5721 9447

Email: edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au

Website: wangarattachronicle.com.au

PUBLIC and private schools throughout the Wangaratta region have pooled their support to raise funds for new lockers to support those experiencing homelessness in the community.

The locker initiative, which was masterminded by local year nine Wangaratta High School students Amarina Huggins, Naomi Roberts, Hannah Dods and Bethany Tanner, received widespread support earlier this week, with a number of local schools holding out-of-uniform days to support the purchase of locker bays to be erected in town.

An exact site for the lockers, which will be made available to those seeking support through local homelessness support provider Zac’s Place, is yet to be decided.

Oxley, St Patrick’s and Yarrunga primary schools each held out-of-uniform days alongside Wangaratta High School on Tuesday in line with National Homelessness Week, while Cathedral College also committed $150 to the initiative.

Wangaratta High School National Homelessness Week fundraising coordinator Céline Forster said a number of other schools had expressed their in-

terest in supporting the initiative in a fundraising capacity in the coming weeks.

“The importance of inviting the greater educational community to join with us is so significant,” she said.

“Modeling to our young people the necessity of community connection and our role in supporting our community, however and whenever we can, is vital and we all are responsible for creating valuable experiences in how to nurture those opportunities and teach those processes.

“We know that developing strong ties to your community is absolutely key to raising kind and capable adults who feel valued.

“We are beyond thrilled to have our colleagues from such a range of schools and their student communities throughout the region support our students’ cause.

“It means so much to us and it is also important that the greater community witness these collaborations and efforts from our student and teacher communities.”

Yarrunga Primary School principal Fran Waterman said

the school had raised in excess of $200 in donations on the day, with the students largely tasked with mustering support for the initiative among their peers.

She said the fact two former Yarrunga students (Amarina and Hannah) were leading the locker initiative had created a connection the school wanted to get behind.

“Those two former students have always been very kind, considerate young people and they think about others, and it’s lovely to see that that’s continuing into their secondary education and it’s truly a part of who they are,” Ms Waterman said.

“The cause itself (Zac’s Place) is a stone’s throw from the school and is well known to our families, many of whom volunteer there, so the school jumped behind it 100 per cent and that included staff and there were parents who (also) made donations.

“We try and use a model where the teachers will talk to a select group of kids – we’ve got a kids council and we’ve also got a group called a projection project, and both of these are

about raising issues within our student body affecting them and more broadly Wangaratta and the world.

“If the teachers can get those kids to understand the core concept, we then send them out to be the champions – the voices of kids talking to kids are much more effective than me standing at the front of an assembly giving a lecture.”

Oxley Primary School principal Tim Seal said a select group of students ranging from year three to year six had organised the school’s fundraising initiative within a week.

“One of the children at my school’s parents actually volunteers at the shelter, and for (the students) to have an appreciation of what people are doing to help others and the fact that it’s important we do help others, it’s a quality we at Oxley think is really important,” he said.

“We put the idea to them (the school’s Kids in Charge group) and they grabbed it with both hands – they had a week to organise it and get everyone onboard and they did a fantastic job getting it out into the community and getting their peers to join in as well.”

Anyone who wishes to donate to the lockers initiative can contact Ms Forster at celine.forster@education.vic.gov.au.

Shakiah Williams take stock of the more than $100 their school raised.

LEADING FROM THE FRONT: Wangaratta High School students Amarina Huggins, Bethany Tanner, Hannah Dods and Naomi Roberts donned casual clothes as they met with Cathedral College principal Nick Jones on Tuesday to raise funds to support the purchase of lockers for the region’s homeless community.

Lower income families hurting from rising energy prices

By STEVE KELLY

ENERGY price rises over the last 12 months between 12 and 14 per cent have been adding to energy bill stress, driven by higher wholesale prices for gas and electricity due to supply issues.

ABS data also shows employee household living costs rose 9.6 per cent in the past year with the June quarter rise at 1.5 per cent.

People on low incomes are especially finding it difficult to make ends meet, with 9.11 per cent (721) of Wangaratta households living off just $400-$499 per week or $20,800-$25,999 per annum, according to the Census 2021.

After that income bracket comes 517 households with $500-649 a week, 643 with $650-$799, 671 living on $800-$999, $658 on $1000$1249 and 599 households earning $1250-$1499.

Wage growth in Australia since the 2021 Census has been moderate with the ABS showing that median employee earnings was $1250 per week, an increase of $50 to August 2022, with two Wage Price Index rises of 0.8 per cent until March 2023.

With the highest of the mentioned household brack-

ets earning less than $80,000 per annum, high mortgage interest rates, record high rents, exacerbated energy costs, and the rising price of groceries and fuel, most households in Wangaratta are feeling the pinch.

Independent Indi MP

Helen Haines has called for greater government sup-

port to help with cost of living pressures, namely rising costs in energy.

“Many Victorians are understandably anxious about increases to their energy bills this winter and the rising costs of electricity and gas are one of the biggest contributors to cost of living pressures in Indi,” Dr Haines said.

“The government must do more to help people be more efficient in their energy use, which will also bring down their bills.

“I have long called for the government to incentivise households to replace inefficient gas appliances with more efficient electric appliances powered by renewables.

The home of future you.

COSTS RISING: With many gas account holders learning that their bill totals will climb from August 1, Indi MP has called on the government to act on its $1 billion Household Energy Upgrades Fund.

TOUGH TIMES: Weekly family household and non-family household incomes in the Rural City of

“This will help bring down energy bills and emissions at the same time.”

Dr Haines said that following her calls to act, the government announced in the budget $1 billion towards a Household Energy Upgrades Fund to unlock more than 110,000 low interest loans for solar panels and energy-

efficient appliances.

Now she is calling on the government to release the details of how and when households can access these low-interest loans.

Other increases included food prices between 7 and 8 per cent, and mortgage interest charges rose 91.6 per cent over the year to June 2023.

PHOTO: Pixabay on Pexels

Wangaratta (Census 2021, ABS).

Community raffle to fly flag for local groups

By RYAN MALCOLM

CLUBS and organisations involved in this year’s Wangaratta community raffle are expected to receive a significant financial boost, with $3 of every $5 ticket sold to be injected into the seller’s group.

Set to commence from September 18 and run through to February 26, the community raf-

fle has previously seen $2 from every ticket sold returned to the organisation.

The Rotary Club of Appin Park Wangaratta will retain $2 from every ticket sold, in order to support other community projects and fund the raffle’s prize pool.

Rotary Club of Appin Park Wangaratta president Geoff Dinning said the community raffle had raised $30,000 on average

over the last six years to be distributed into community groups.

He said this year’s iteration offered an improved financial reward for participating groups, as the Rotary Club looked to welcome groups which had not previously engaged with the raffle.

“We’re making it a priority to involve more clubs,” he said.

“Last year the participating clubs got $2 (from every ticket

sold) and this year they’re going to get $3 – it’s a 33 per cent increase for them and it should be a lot more advantageous for them.”

The raffle’s six major prizes are yet to be determined, with further details expected to be confirmed over the coming fortnight.

For more information about the community raffle, contact Bev Maher on 0419 533 898.

WINTER WONDERLAND: Falls Creek local and Olympic mogul skiier Britt Cox welcomed 5cm of fresh snow at the resort on Thursday morning.

PHOTO: Vail

Resorts

Fresh snow falls at North East resorts

THE North East’s alpine resorts have welcomed fresh snowfall for the first time in days, with both Mount Hotham and Falls Creek waking to fresh falls on Thursday morning.

Falls Creek welcomed 5cm of snow throughout the morning, while snow continued to fall at Mount Hotham into the afternoon.

Falls Creek Ski Lifts marketing manager Betony Pitcher said the resort hoped the conditions were a sign of more to come.

“This snowfall shows how things can change with the weather and offers insight into next week’s forecast of snow,” she said.

“Conditions can and do change and (Thursday’s) snowfall is a testament to that and a promising sign of things to come.

“We have welcomed 5cm of snow here at Falls Creek and the vibes in the village are high.”

Snow showers are forecast at both resorts throughout early next week.

Mount Hotham marketing manager Emily Smith said the snowfall had laid the foundation for some strong August skiing.

“It’s great to see the snow return to the mountain,” she said.

“A wintry blast delivered 10cm this morning and the village is buzzing.

“With more snow in the forecast over the next couple of weeks we’re looking forward to some great August skiing.”

GET INVOLVED: Rotary Club of Appin Park Wangaratta members (from left) Mick and Bev Maher and Geoff Dinning are looking forward to launching the 2023/24 Wangaratta community raffle next month.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Pharmacist care pilot to alleviate GP shortages

MISSED OPPORTUNITY:

Lost runner found by motorcyclist

By BRODIE EVERIST

A 31-year-old Melbourne woman escaped a chilly night in Dinner Plain last weekend after getting lost on a run.

By STEVE KELLY

PEOPLE will be able to bypass GPs and access a number of treatment options via pharmacists following the passing of a bill through Victorian Parliament last week.

Amendments to the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 have now passed both Houses, meaning that pharmacists will soon be able to treat minor skin conditions, reissue oral contraceptives, and supply medication for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs).

It has paved the way for pharmacists to become authorised prescribers as part of a statewide pilot.

Community pharmacists can participate in the pilot through an opt-in EOI process and will have to meet certain conditions before they can start providing services, including mandatory training and an assessment of the facilities

available at the pharmacy.

But while local GP Julian Fidge of Wangaratta South Medical Centre said this is better than no care at all, it does not address the doctor shortage problem.

“This is a typical government response - there are not enough doctors, so they substitute a lower standard of care from a pharmacist,” Dr Fidge said.

“The government would be better off providing, say, purpose-built GP clinics in rural towns, and funding GP practices for services like wound care and infusions.

“It is disappointing that govern-

ment responses continue to be so short-sighted and narrow.”

The Victorian Budget 2023/24 invested $20 million to establish the pilot, which is aimed to increase access to affordable and timely primary healthcare options from a trusted source.

The government expects the move to free up GPs to provide care to patients with more complex needs and reduce non-urgent presentations to busy hospital emergency departments.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said the pilot will test an expanded role for community

Instead of allowing pharmacists to provide treatment to customers, Dr Julian Fidge believes the government would have been better off providing purposebuilt GP clinics in rural towns, and funding GP practices for services like wound care and infusions.

pharmacists and will help Victorians struggling to get an appointment with a GP.

“Timely care is so important, even for basic health conditions, and this trial will explore the effectiveness of expanding the range of care pharmacists can offer to help Victorians access the care they need, when they need it,” she said.

The 12-month pilot will be evaluated with recommendations provided to government to help inform longer-term decision making around the prescribing role of community pharmacists.

According to Bright Police’s Senior Sergeant Doug Incoll, the lady set off from Dinner Plain at around 11am on Sunday planning to do a 1-hour run, but she became disoriented and was found nearly 30 kilometres south east from Dinner Plain on Birregun Road.

When she had not returned after three hours her family called the police, who instituted a multi-agency response, including CFA, SES, ski patrol and local volunteers.

However, Sen Sgt Incoll said she was found by a man on a motorbike at around 5pm and driven back to Omeo.

He said the woman was carrying a phone but the battery had died, and she was only wearing light clothing.

“She was so lucky the motorbike rider came along,” he said.

“It could’ve ended in tragedy.”

Sen Sgt Incoll said it was a timely reminder to take simple safety precautions when travelling the mountains, such as carrying a charged phone, telling people where you are going, taking a map and carrying cold weather clothing in case of emergency.

MAREN HAZELL SAXOPHONE

Maren started playing Alto Sax 29 years ago in high school and played in the school concert band, stage band and funk band until finishing year 12. She then moved onto playing with the Bendigo Big Band throughout her years at University. Maren has also been involved with the local bands ‘Jazzaratta’, Sweet Buzz, Liam Blunts Funky Rhythm Train and the ‘Boweya Blues Revival’ band. Maren comes from a musical family and has taught primary school music around her full time job as a busy mum of 3 children. Once featured on the cover of North East Tourist News Magazine, Maren’s big claim to fame is supporting the famous James Morrison with the Bendigo Big Band. Always smiling, Maren’s flawless dance moves on stage almost exceed her awesome sax playing in Project 365 and urges you to come check out the gig on November

Rural city to flourish in sporting weekend

TWO major state level sporting events are set to have the rural city reaping the economic rewards this weekend.

Close to 700 participants overall and their families will descend on Wangaratta and surrounding areas for the Victorian Country Short Course Swimming Championships at WSAC and the AusCycling Victorian road time trial and road race championships at Winton and Glenrowan.

While the rural city has hosted both events in recent years, it’s a rare and exciting opportunity to be able to see both sports in full swing simultaneously from tomorrow.

Accommodation for the events have been fully booked since as early as January in some quarters, with some families even making a long weekend out of their stays.

Visitors in between the action at WSAC and just outside of town for the cycling will no doubt enjoy the food, shopping, attractions and much more on offer throughout the city.

The Rural City of Wangaratta estimate around $100,000 will be put into the local economy from the weekend alone.

Economy boosts outside of school or public holidays don’t come around like this often, and is also an encouraging sign of the rural city’s attraction of high level events.

While some visitors will enjoy the benefits of Wangaratta for the first time, there will be plenty of opportunity for locals to get out, watch and embrace the high level racing in the pool and on the road this weekend, and even support some of our local talent going up against some of the best in the state.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

FACEBOOK users this week commented on our weekly poll, which asked users: ‘Do you or would you feel safer with CCTV at your place of residence?’

• Kim Winnell: Just had 4 installed and feel like people can see them, read the security sign. Also feel it deters would be trespassers.

• Alec Cassar: No we are already controlled enough in our lives..

• Georgina Rea: No definitely not.

• Timothy Simpson: A dog is a better investment.

• Marlene Lamond: Yes.

Facebook users also commented on the family affair at King Valley on the weekend, with all five Davies brothers made up of Charlie, Jack, Bill, Harry and Tom all taking the field together in the senior side against Bonnie Doon.

• Wendy Grassi: A family

Veterans grants open and fresh ideas wanted

THE State Government is looking for fresh ideas and new ways to honour, commemorate and remember Victoria’s veterans with the opening of a new round of grants.

It coincides with the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund and Victoria Remembers grant programs which opened this week.

Both programs provide an exciting opportunity for Victorians to contribute and find new ways to support our veterans.

The Anzac Day Proceeds Fund helps ex-service organisations deliver activities that boost the wellbeing of Victoria’s veteran community.

Victoria Remembers supports projects that honour the service and sacrifice of our veterans or educates Victorians about their contributions.

Previous recipients include:

• Soldier On, which is running wellness weekends connecting veterans and their families in Sale, Wodonga and Puckapunyal with the help of the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund

• Flemington/Kensington RSL is refurbishing display cabinets that hold historically important photos with the help of the Victoria Remembers Grants Program. It’s also supporting the local veteran community through welfare assistance by connecting them to financial and mental health support

• The Chinese Museum was funded as part of Victoria Remembers to capture the stories of WWI and WWII veterans with their Chinese Australian veterans film project.

We’re providing Victoria’s veteran community with practical support to build a fulfilling life beyond their service – these grants are about supporting veteran welfare and giving ex-service organisations the opportunity to design and deliver the programs.

We want to make sure the service and sacrifice of veterans is always remembered and we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to honour that service.

To apply or find out more about the grants visit vic.gov.au/grants-support-andcommemorate-veterans.

NOTE: Comments as they appear online, without corrections.

affair well done boys

• Brandon Joel Milky Moore: Thats so cool Sue Davis. That’s awesome.. Well done

• Heidrun Kneebone: Nice photo

• Pauline Cain –Kneebone: Wow nice photo

• Brett McClen: Brilliant

• Matt Lane: Are you sure Jack is 27? Looks about 12!

Facebook users also commented on a lane closure last week on the

Hume Freeway to the Melbourne-bound lanes between Seymour and Broadford, following a truck rollover.

• Missy Jean: Looks like I’m leaving home early

• Andrew Smith: Yep, long delays already....

• Tania Pool: Brody Ricardi .....hopefully all clear before you guys need to go.

• William Magnus: Truck rollover potential catastrophe to road user

Like the Wangaratta Chronicle Facebook page to have your say.

Our follower total is

14,296

WINTON WONDERLAND: A collaborative project and exhibition by three artists, Victoria Cooper, Maggie Hollins and Doug Spowart (pictured), inspired by Winton Wetlands renewal, is showing in the Bainz Gallery at the Wangaratta Library. Meet the artists and learn more about “Palimpsest” tomorrow from 1pm in the library foyer, with all welcome to attend.

and events in their local communities.

The community walks aim to raise awareness of diabetes and rally communities, healthcare professionals, and individuals alike to work towards a healthier and more vibrant future for all Australians.

With the help of communities across Australia, Lions Australia aims to have a combined distance travelled that will exceed Australia’s circumference (25,760 kms) by World Diabetes Day.

POLL RESULTS

Do you or would you feel safer with CCTV at your place of residence?

31 Yes 29 No

THIS WEEK

Natalie Suleyman,

Minister for Veterans Lions Lap the Map for diabetes

LIONS volunteers across the country are on a mission to do what they can to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve the quality of life for those diagnosed with diabetes.

In the lead-up to World Diabetes Day on November 14, Lions Clubs across Australia will be hosting Lions Lap the Map walks

The disease can lead to serious health issues affecting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves and teeth.

From events in shopping centres and gyms, to walks in parks with healthy food, diabetes screenings for attendees and informative health professionals there’s a range of different types of events held as part of the Lap the Map campaign.

We encourage people to keep an eye out and if you’re local Lions Club is having an event consider going along.

Pat Mills, Lions

Diabetes coordinator

2

CCTV votes to yesterdaynoon

Would you benefit from the Federal Government’s 60-day dispensing legislation, due to take effect September 1?

WE welcome your letters to the Editor. Priority is given to typed/emailed letters under 250 words. Every letter must have your full name, address and a daytime phone contact number supplied for verification purposes. Any letter may be edited for reasons of space, content or legibility.

FACEBOOK users this week commented on the crossbench of Victoria standing united on the Commonwealth games inquiry.

• Shane Stone: And his replacement wont be any better

• Ian Ladgrove: Now the Queen is gone just stick to the Olympic Games the first quotation was 2 billion and their last estimate was 6-7 billion, it needed canning.

• Reg Carmody: Could you imagine the uproar if the games had of gone ahead at the blown out budget thats been projected.

It’s a no win situation.

• Julie Braden: Reg Carmody

Indicative of the extraordinary levels of money in sport today.

It is unsustainable to begin with.

I personally object to another taxpayer $ being spent on something that is creating more dumbed down people distracted by the sports circus.

• Codie Lawrey: Good call on this one Dan.

• Angus Calder: Its a upper house (MLC) enquiry. Don’t hold your breathe expecting any Lower House Ministers or Dan himself

NOTE: Comments as they appear online, without corrections.

to front up....the upper house has no power to compel lower house MP’s to attend.

Facebook users also commented on Wangaratta affordable housing shortage being slightly abated, with 13 new units now available at the former Max Parkinson Lodge site on Sadler Street.

• Alli Baker: Hhmmm right, yet there’s still no help for homeless or people living in tents or caravans on river banks. New housing will only ever cater to the medium wage bracket and higher,

if the people are lucky enough to get accepted in the 100 plus applications.

• Sylvia Holloway: Good work.

• Claudia Downs: How can we apply?

Facebook users also commented on the instalment of a fourth kerbside bin for glass recycling being scheduled to rollout to households and businesses by next financial year.

• VaL Am-Me: I love the pretty lid. It will take us forever to fill it, but fantastic for recycling better.

TWITTER users this week tweeted about a Victoria police regional lunch, the service at APCO service station and the Lions Club making a donation.

Victoria Police Legacy @vicpolicelegacy

What a great turnout for the Wangaratta Regional Lunch held last Friday in Oxley. Our regional lunches bring together Police Legatees so that they can enjoy some fellowship over a meal with local police and keep their connection with the ‘police family’ strong.

ANNE ROBBIE @ANNEROBBIE1

Quick coffee and filled car @ APCO service station at Wangaratta. It’s becoming a ritual, such friendly service, lovely coffee, good food and clean amenities! Many thanks!

Like the Wangaratta Chronicle Facebook page to have your say.

Our follower total is

14,296

wangarattahighschool

Follow

WA) as part of a special program offered by the Department’s Outdoor School.

Check out some of our best photos at our @wangchronicle Instagram account.

Lions Club of Wangaratta @LionsWangaratta

Lions Cub President Geoff Turnbull and Past President Mick Everard presented Franco Cudini from Da Vinci Social Club with a cheque for $2500 for important pump upgrades. #lionswangaratta #weserve

If you have something to say, add our handle @wangchronicle to your tweet and we will publish some each week.

Tweet Natalya and I cycling Wangaratta to Bright. Luckily both my kids love cycling, too. (This was before Nat became a mum and I became a grand marie)

Mary Garden @marygarden

A group of our Year 10 students are in Kimberley (northern

Galen staff set for set ‘Ladies in Black’

BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au

AS opening night for Wangaratta Players’ production of ‘Ladies in Black’ draws closer, there is a hum of expectation - and nervesaround the Galen Catholic College campus.

Seven members of staff are involved in the August 17-19 shows - among them veterans of the stage, newcomers, and music and dance specialists.

So if a few lines of script are uttered in unofficial rehearsal, or words to one of the Tim Finn-penned songs escape the lips, it’s easy to imagine there would be an understanding nod from a passing fellow cast member.

Galen drama teacher Julie Nolan, who has directed many student productions at the school and has performed with the Players on numerous occasions, has the role of Patty in ‘Ladies in Black’.

She said there was something exciting about performing and rehearsing with colleagues.

“I have really enjoyed looking through the eyes of those who are new to the stage, and love hearing them talk about the extensive process undertaken to bring a musical to life. Their ex-

citement is infectious,” Julie said.

“It is also very handy to be able to touch base with the choreographer, vocal coach, or rehearsal pianist during lunchtimes or after school to fine-tune any of the more demanding aspects - a great perk of working with those in these roles.

“I am really looking forward to production week, knowing that Wangaratta audiences will be thoroughly entertained by this wonderfully talented cast, under the experienced direction of Colette Quin.”

Galen literacy leader and teacher Drew Wighton has also taken part in several Players productions, but still admits to some nerves as he prepares for his role as Rudi.

“I am terrified of dancing, so I’m feeling quite nervous about my solo song,” he said.

Drew said he was surprised to see so many famil-

iar faces from Galen at the information session for the show, but has enjoyed sharing joys and anxieties with the group as the show has developed.

Galen marketing manager/registrar Zoe Cooper and media and communications officer Vanida O’Brien are part of the ensemble, and are enjoying the new outlet the musical has provided.

Zoe said: “I have always had a love for music and singing. When I started at Galen, it reignited the opportunity to perform, and as a staff group we have sung at end of year staff events.

“We are surrounded by so much talent at Galen, and knowing that there are supportive staff members to suggest a rehearsal at lunchtime has made a huge difference with my confidence, as this is the first time I have taken singing to the stage.”

SUPPORTING YOUR CARTAGE NEEDS ALL YEAR ROUND

Vanida said 2023 had been a year of firsts for her, having moved into the education system for work and now preparing to make her debut on stage in ‘Ladies in Black’.

“I really wanted to do something for me, which quickly became a little overwhelming trying to juggle everything. But the support I have had from my family, friends, all the cast, crew and everyone involved - especially my GCC colleagues - has been the thing that has kept me going and continues to turn nerves into full-fledged fun,” she said.

Galen’s music director, Beth Code, is also music director for the production, while music teacher Felicity Davis is part of the orchestra.

Beth said it had been a pleasure to work with Galen staff for ‘Ladies in Black’,

and to get to know them in a different context.

“Seeing the talent of our staff, as well knowing some are stepping outside of their comfort zone, is always an inspiration,” she said.

Felicity said she had enjoyed getting to learn a new musical alongside a great cast: “It has been great getting to see the Galen staff in a non-work environment and making new relationships with people.”

Milly Quin, a 2022 year 12 Galen student now working at the school as an arts trainee, said she’d enjoyed collaborating with the cast and crew as choreographer for the production.

“I had a great experience collaborating with a skilled and committed group of my colleagues, and look forward to working with them again in the future,” she said.

‘Ladies in Black’ is based

on the bestselling book by Madeleine St John.

Set in 1950s Sydney when the city is on the cusp of becoming cosmopolitan, it sees a young high school graduate, Lisa, take a holiday job at Goodes, the most prestigious department store in town.

Over the summer, a world of possibilities opens up as she befriends the ladies of the women’s frock department, including her new mentor, the exotic European Magda.

The local production will be staged at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Thursday, August 17, Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19 at 7pm, with a matinee on the Saturday at 2pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the WPACC box office or online at https://www. wpacc.com.au/Whats-On/ Ladies-in-Black

IN FULL VOICE: Galen staff members Beth Code, Zoe Cooper, Drew Wighton, Julie Nolan, Vanida O’Brien and (front) Felicity Davis are looking forward to being part of next week’s Wangaratta Players production of ‘Ladies in Black’. Milli Quin, who is also a staff member at the school, is choreographer for the production.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

‘Soup-er’ idea warming students this winter

By SIMONE KERWIN

WANGARATTA District Specialist

School students are offering a warm welcome to university students visiting the region, through a ‘soup in a jar’ initiative.

The project has seen the WDSS students boost their skills by preparing jars of soup mix, which then provide winter comfort to university students on rural placement.

Through the University of Melbourne’s Going Rural Health initiative, students arriving in the region on rural placement are offered support through accommodation and bursaries to help alleviate some of the challenges of undergoing placement.

“We know that students doing placement can sometimes feel isolated, especially in rural areas, so by offering a little comfort such as a warm meal, we hope to make the students feel welcome and supported,” Jessica Winzer, associate lecturer in interprofessional rural education at Going Rural Health, said.

The Wangaratta District Specialist School and Going Rural Health have collaborated on this initiative as an extension to their long-standing partnership, which integrates allied health university students into the school environment as part of the service-learning placements.

The soup in a jar initiative was taken on by the WDSS students as

part of their culinary and hospitality training, where an on-site café and industrial kitchen exists.

They prepared and measured all the dry soup mix ingredients, and labelled and packed the jars, ready to be handed on to university students to prepare the soup when they’re in need of a warm meal.

“We’ve loved working on this project; it’s allowed the students to learn new skills and build their confidence,” Meg Rickard, WDSS jobs, skills and pathways coordinator, said.

“Our students are studying hospitality and working on achieving their Victorian Pathways Certifi-

Teen murder committal to stretch into next year

COMMITTAL proceedings for three Sheppartonarea locals charged with murdering a Wangaratta teen won’t begin until at least next year.

Danny Clarke, 38 and Kylie Stott, 37, both from Shepparton, and Dimitri D’Elio, 24, from Mooroopna, are charged with murdering 19-year-old Charlie Gander near Shepparton on Christmas Eve last year.

Mr Gander’s body was found in a vehicle ablaze on Loch Garry Road near Bunbartha around 10am.

cate; this has enabled them to not only tick off outcomes towards their certificate, but also apply knowledge learned in the classroom in a project that is meaningful.”

The soup has so far been received far and wide by university students on placement over the winter months.

Advertorial

The trio faced Shepparton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when it was determined at least 12 witnesses had already been canvassed for committal proceedings, with more expected to be added ahead of the matter’s March 20 commencement.

A number of witnesses are expected to be cross examined before the matter returns to the court for further mention on October 3.

Kenmac Denture Clinic

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

KENMAC Denture Clinic is still open in Wangaratta and under new management. Gavin and Marion Braybrook recently took over the business after hearing the previous owners, Wendy and Joe Fitzgerald, had retired.

“I heard a whisper from one of the guys that worked with me that the previous owners were looking to get out so now here we are,” dental prosthetist and new owner Gavin said.

Marion said since taking over the business, many had presumed that the clinic had closed and he wanted to assure customers that was not the case.

“The previous couple of customers have said they’ve been going to Benalla because they’d heard we’ve closed when actually we’ve taken over what’s already here,” she said.

Gavin has been in the dentistry industry for 40 years and prides himself on providing prompt service while caring for his patients with an empathetic ear with Marion greeting customers with a smile at reception.

They will still offer the same services as the previous owners including full and partial dentures, relines, denture repairs and mouthguards.

Gavin said they are looking forward to taking care of Wangaratta locals five days a week for many years to come.

“We do have friends up this way so that made it attractive for us,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to a good future here treating the populous of Wangaratta and surrounding areas.”

NEW MANAGEMENT: It’s business as usual at Kenmac Denture Clinic with new owners Gavin and Marion Braybrook.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

WINTER WARMER: Meg Rickard (left), jobs, skills and pathways coordinator/careers advisor at Wangaratta District Specialist School, with students Olivia Scott, Holly Sinclair, Conrad Hagl and Tamara Lord holding their soup-ina-jar creations.

Help support young people experiencing homelessness

By CLAIRE ANDERSON Transitional Services Manager NESAY

YOUNG people present to NESAY to seek help when they are going through a period of experiencing or at risk, homelessness.

The young people present with a wide range of hopes and expectations and NESAY works alongside the young person to assist them through this stage of their life.

NESAY is funded to support 184 young people per year, from 16 – 25 years, and receive referrals mainly from Beyond Housing.

Over the past years, we have seen a steady increase in complexity of experiences that the young people are facing. We note the impacts of bushfire and COVID on our young people and the communities they live in.

There are many reasons why a young person may be experiencing homelessness, however it is noted that family violence has been an impacting factor in most of the young people who present seeking assistance.

It has also been noted that during the current economic climate that private rental options are very limited, and causing a greater demand for NESAY services.

NESAY works with the young people to reduce barriers to their achieving successful housing, and this also means education, information and advice to young people as they navigate this time in their life. Alongside of this is the case management for young people who may require longer term support for any issues that are impacting upon their ability to gain and maintain secure housing.

We see the value of case management support to be a critical element in the success of securing safe and affordable housing. This value cannot be understated. Resolving the experiences of

ATO gives green light to lodge your tax

THE Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is giving taxpayers with simple affairs the ‘green light’ to lodge their annual income tax returns.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said that most taxpayers with simple affairs will find the information they need to lodge has now been pre-filled in their tax return.

“Most of the information we collect from employers, banks, private health insurers, share registries, and other institutions is now ready to go,” Mr Loh said.

“So, if your financial affairs are fairly straightforward, you’ve got a ‘green light’ to lodge – but remember you still need to check your details are accurate before you hit submit.”

Regardless of whether you lodge using a registered tax agent or yourself through myTax, pre-fill information will be automatically available in your tax return.

homelessness goes beyond the bricks and mortar, as the circumstances that brings a young person into homelessness are complex and often involve trauma experience. NESAY doesn’t hold a waiting list, and it is understood that young people need a timely response, and that to live with the uncertainty of homelessness creates significant life difficulties and the longer the wait the more the impact.

Victoria’s Homeless and rough sleeping plan 2023 notes “that the longer a person remains without shelter, the more serious the effects on their health and wellbeing become and the more difficult it is to successfully resolve their homelessness”.

NESAY CEO Leah Waring

holds the strong belief that the earlier the intervention for young people experiencing homelessness, the better the outcome, particularly if it is their first time experiencing homelessness. Being able to assist young people in a kind, timely and individualised manner can often mean the difference between short and longer term homelessness.

Team Leader Amanda Crane works with NESAY’s Youth Advisory Commit-

tee, who provide advice and young person expertise to the work that NESAY does.

This committee demonstrates the resilience, hope and enthusiasm that all young people display, and allows the NESAY staff to hold the hope for all young people during difficult times and be part of their journey towards achieving their life goals.

This response can be difficult to achieve with severely limited resources, however NESAY works hard in the community to create and maintain partnerships with local businesses and agencies, which assists in helping young people through an experience of homelessness.

Events such as the NESAY Gala Ball, and initiatives like the Friends of NESAY help

create a community where the experience of homelessness for young people is not acceptable and creative solutions can be provided.

One of these exciting developments is the creation of the Education First Youth Foyer, that has been established by partnership between GO TAFE, Uniting, NESAY and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

The Foyer will provide 40 semi-independent rooms with 24 hr youth worker support to assist in the development of independent living skills while working towards educational & life goals.

Anyone or any business wishing to assist are able to contact NESAY during business hours on 03 5720 2201, and any donation over $2 is tax deductible.

Mr Loh also reminded taxpayers that some income may need to be manually added – for example, income from rental properties, some government payments or income from ‘side hustles’.

“Just because you’ve got a green light that doesn’t mean you should rush,” he said.

“Take your time and make sure to check that all your information is included.”

The ATO reminded taxpayers that the outcome of tax returns this year may be different than in previous years, with some people receiving a lower refund than expected, or even a tax bill.

When you lodge your own return, the due date for payment is November 21, regardless of when you lodge.

If you are using a registered agent your due date may be later.

WE’RE HEAR FOR YOU: Ruth Nugent and Dianna (Dee) Piazza from NESAY promoting Youth Homelessness Matters Day.

Janet Leith a finalist in National Capital Art Prize

By ANITA MCPHERSON

LOCAL artist and educator Janet Leith has been announced as a finalist in this year’s National Capital Art Prize, for an emotional and thought-provoking painting on canvas called Melancholia 1.

Janet said she was thrilled to be selected; the painting from a new series being developed by the artist who is known for her figurative art and portraiture which often featured bold colours.

She said she embarked on a new direction late last year exploring the concept of ‘melancholia’, the four humours and the emotional and physical effects these can have on the human body.

“I’ve gone back to more lifedrawing work and away from colourful painting with oils - I’m enjoying pushing the contrast of black and white and working with more subtle colour,” she said.

“It’s unexpected and exciting to be a finalist, given it’s a different body of work and something I really want to do - exploring those emotions we all have.

“I don’t want who it is (in the painting) to be important - it’s not the focus of the work - it’s an expression of emotion and vulnerability, rather than being about a particular individual.”

Janet has now sent her painting to Canberra in preparation for final adjudication and the official opening of the exhibition in

September, which she also plans to attend.

A panel of eminent art critics spent several days narrowing down a huge field of over 800 entries received for the prize, to a shortlist of 93 finalists, with just 16 of those from Victoria.

The judges said they were impressed by the quality and standard of this year’s entries, which included several from Australia’s best-known artists, including previous Archibald finalists.

 ART PRIZE: Janet Leith, from the Art Gallery on Ovens, is delighted to be a finalist in the National Capital Art Prize 2023.

 FINALIST WORK: The judging panel selected Janet Leith’s painting Melancholia 1 (charcoal, acrylic, gesso and conte crayon, 76cm x 76cm) in the open category.

Four talented artists will share a cash prize pool of $47,500 this year, with only the best of the best artworks shortlisted in the twotiered adjudication process being finalised in September.

The judging panel will select three category winners ahead of a four week public exhibition which opens on Saturday, September 16 at Aarwun Gallery in Gold Creek, Canberra.

There is also an online People’s Choice Award, with all finalist

artworks displayed in a virtual gallery, giving the public the opportunity to vote daily to determine who wins the category; the winner taking home a cash prize of $2500.

Voting closes on Monday, September 11 and the finalist works are also available for sale online at https://nationalcapitalartprize. com.au/2023-finalist-gallery/.

The 2023 National Capital Art Prize category winners will be announced in on September 14.

EMPOWERING SPEAKER: Tracey

McGeehan will be the guest at the next Wangaratta Women in Leadership breakfast on September 8.

Breakfast to inspire women in leadership

NORTHEAST Health Wangaratta disability support officer Tracey McGeehan will be the guest speaker at the next Wangaratta Women in Leadership breakfast on Friday, September 8.

Those attending will hear about Tracey’s passion for diversity and inclusion, along with her lived experience of being profoundly deaf.

By showcasing Tracey’s achievements, the Wangaratta Women in Leadership breakfast hopes to inspire and empower women to take on leadership roles and make a positive impact within their own communities.

The event, at the Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway in Ryley Street, will kick off with networking opportunities and a light breakfast from 7am, followed by Tracey’s keynote address. Promising to be an empowering experience for all attendees, the morning is scheduled to conclude at 8.30am.

There are limited places available, and bookings can be made by visiting https://www.eventbrite. com.au/o/wangaratta-women-inleadership-58406119833

Leopold returns to Wangaratta

By CHLOE JAENICKE

LEOPOLD Servais was an exchange student at Wangaratta High School eight years ago and recently returned to Wangaratta while on trip around Australia with his family.

Anne Dodd, who he stayed with on exchange eight years ago, said the family visited them for a day after arriving in Victoria.

“His whole family came, they all wanted to come to Australia, and they came to meet us,” she said.

“After they came to Melbourne, they hired a car and came straight to Wangaratta to see us and there was the mother, the father and Leopold’s sister and they were just here for the day.

After this, they embarked on a trip around Australia.

“They went on this huge journey across Australia, from Melbourne they went to Uluru and then they went to Sydney, Cairns and Darwin and then they’re flying home.”

Ms Dodd said some of the visitors favourite things were the Great Ocean Road and seeing kangaroos.

“They were amazed by the Great Ocean Road and the scenery,” she said.

“One of the thrills was for them to see kangaroos at Jubilee Golf Course; we took them up there to see the kangaroos.”

Ms Dodd said she was glad to see Leopold again and to see how he had grown and matured.

“It was lovely to see Leopold again, he always said he’d come back but kids say that, and they don’t,” she said.

“He was only 16 when he came here, now he’s 24 so he was only a boy when he came here and now, he’s man.

“So there was a big difference, but there’s still that nice kid in there.”

Since first coming to Australia around eight years ago, Leopold has been studying and Ms Dodd said he’s looking at going into the finance sector sometime soon.

FAMILY VISIT: Leopold Servais, Michael Dodd, Anne Dodd, Diane Servais, Eleanor Servais and Richard Servais all enjoyed a day in Wangaratta together before the Servais’ continued their trip around Australia.

RETURNING: Leopold Servais recently visited Wangaratta again after being an exchange student at Wangaratta High School eight years ago.

No leniency for 150kph driver

A WOMAN who reached speeds of more than 150kph and repeatedly followed closely behind other vehicles in the right lane of the Hume Freeway near Wangaratta has been fined more than $1000 and banned from driving for six months.

The accused woman, who hails from Sydney, appeared at Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday, pleading guilty to charges including drive at a speed dangerous, after she was caught driving at

152kph near Winton in November last year.

According to police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Sarah Williamson, police observed the accused following closely behind other vehicles and braking in close proximity over a 20km period, before eventually intercepting her north of the Greta Road overpass.

LSC Williamson said the accused had been carrying two adult passengers at the time, and made

F R E E FREE

KIT FLUE KIT

admissions to the offending when intercepted by police.

Defending herself in court, the accused told Magistrate Ian Watkins she had been visiting Melbourne for a volleyball tournament over the Melbourne Cup long weekend, before returning home early on November 2.

The single mother said a licence suspension would be particularly onerous, and sought leniency on her time off the road.

“I was just trying to get home to my family over the long weekend,” she told Mr Watkins.

She acknowledged there wasn’t an excuse for her actions.

Mr Watkins said speeding more than 40kph above the speed limit carried a mandatory licence suspension of six months.

He said her actions had resulted in a “fairly significant risk” police would have been required to let her children know their mother

had been involved in a fatal crash.

He said a penalty needed to reflect the “significant increase” in the number of lives lost on Victorian and New South Wales roads so far this year.

“The courts have an obligation to respond accordingly in my view,” he told the accused.

He imposed almost $1100 in fines and court costs, and banned the accused from driving for six months.

GROWN CATTLE

RJ Clark – Boorhaman (AWN)

6 Angus Steers 16mths ‘Fernhill Blood’

15 Angus Heifers 15mths ‘Fernhill Blood’ NSM

P & K Del Mastro – Bowmans Forrest (CP)

10 Angus Steers 15mths ‘Jarobee & Witherswood’ bld

Drenched 5in1x3

10 Angus Heifers 15mths ‘Jarobee & Witherswood’ bld

Drenched 5in1x3

T & E Kirk – Mrylteford (CP)

16 Angus Heifers 12mths

BT & EM Bourke – Bowser (AWN)

14 Black Baldy & Hereford Steers 14mths WEANED

RC & SM Leavold – Meadow Creek (AWN)

7 Angus Steers 16mths ‘Murramungee Bld’ WEANED

Sherminga Shorthorns – Seymour (CP)

7 Shorthorn Heifers 16–17mths ‘Royalla & Ronelle Park’ bld

WEANED

YFF Ventures – Tatong (AWN)

6 Murray Grey Steers 15mths

R & K O’Brien – Taminick (NUTR)

4 Angus steers 14mths ‘Jade Park’ Bld Drenched

ANGUS STEERS

Bowmans Forest Pty Ltd – Bowmans Forest (AWN)

200 Angus Steers 10-12mths ‘Alpine Angus & Welcome

Swallow Bld’ Weaned 5in1x3

Barina Ag – Benalla (NUTR)

90 Angus steers 10-11mths ‘Banquet & Jade Park’ bld 5 in

1x2 Multimin WEANED

AJ Smith – Byawatha (AWN) ** EU **

75 Angus Steers 10-12mths ‘Tabletop & Jade Park Bld’

7in1x2 ADE Arrest–June WEANED

Somerset Pastoral – Mollyullah (ELD)

75 Angus steers ‘Jarobee bld’ WEANED

Davilak Pastoral Co. – Mansfield (CP) **EU **

70 Angus Steers 11–12mths ‘Glendaloch bld’ 5in1x3

Drenched Vetmec Inj & LV Pour On July, Multimin July

Selovin LA Nov 22 WEANED

Yacca Pastoral – Tatong (CP)

70 Angus Steers 10mths ‘Table Top & Riga’ bld Drenched

Vacc 5in1 WEANED

SJ Purcell ‘Bon Accord’ – Mansfield (CP)

70 Angus Steers 10–11mths ‘Banquet & Fernhill’ bld

Drenched 5in1x2 Arrest WEANED

Loxley Pastoral – Killawarra (CP)

60 Angus Steers 9 – 10 mths ‘Jade Park & Temania’ bld

drenched 2xVacc WEANED

Gorman T/a AMP “Allawah” – Saversnake (CP)

60 Angus Steers 10–11mths ‘Riga’ Bld 5in1x2 Drenched

Backlined WEANED

B & E Lundstrom – Mansfield (NUTR)

50 Angus steers 11mths ‘Te Mania Bld’ WEANED

G & CM Burrowes – Moyhu (AWN)

50 Angus Steers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Blood’ WEANED

A.R.T.S.B. – Bonnie Doon (CP)

45 Angus Steers 9–10mths drenched Noramectin 31/5, 7in1

B & E Burrowes – Moyhu (AWN)

30 Angus Steers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Blood’ WEANED

Yopies Pty Ltd – Hansonville (AWN)

30 Angus Steers 12mths WEANED

J & F Barnes – Docker (NUTR)

30 Angus steers 11mths ‘Landfall Bld’ WEANED

S & E Cleal – Killawarra **EU ACC* (NUTR)

30 Angus steers 10-11mths Jade Park Blood WEANED

Calview Past – Laceby (NUTR)

30 Angus steers 11-12mths ‘Banquet & Ardrossan Bld’

WEANED

S. Haugh & L. McGregor – Mansfield (CP)

30 Angus steers 10–11mths ‘Witherswood & Anvil’ bld’

Drenched Cydectin Platnium 7in1x3 Incarcerate Multimin

WEANED

Martin Schoner – Whitfield (CP)

30 Angus Steers 10–11mths ‘Black Aqua’ bld Denched

2 x Vacc WEANED

Gaywest Pastoral Co. – Jamieson (CP)

28 Angus Steers 10–12 mths ‘Landfall & Ross Rich’ bld

7in1x2 WEANED

G, P & D Norman-Londrigan **EU ACC* (NUTR)

25 Angus steers 11-12mths ‘Banquet Bld’ Drenched Ivomec

Inj Pestiguard Vacc WEANED

Rothmore Angus – Myrrhee (NUTR)

25 Angus Steers 9-10mths ‘Injemira Bld’ Drenched Eprinex

WEANED

Nugent & Cunningham – Docker (NUTR)

25 Angus steers 10-11mths ‘Landfall Bld’ WEANED

Gibson Partnerhsip – Tamanick (CP)

25 Angus Steers 9–10mths ‘Witherswwood’ bld WEANED

P & K Del Mastro – Bowmasn Forrest (CP)

25 Angus Steers 10mths ‘Jarobee & Witherswood’ bld

Drenched 5in1x3 WEANED

Perry Family Farms – Kerrisdale (NUTR)

22 Angus steers 11mths ‘Kelly and Lawsons Bld’

Yard WEANED Mountain Fresh Livestock – Bonnie Doon (CP)

20 Angus Steers 8–10mths ‘Kelly Angus’ Bld 7in1x2

T & E Kirk – Mrylteford (CP)

20 Angus Steers 8–10mths

Londrigan Hay & Grazing –(CP)

20 Angus steers 10 – 11mths ‘Bellaspur’ bld, Drenched Ivomec, Vacc 5in1, AD & E Yard WEANED

A & M Younger – Greta (AWN)

20 Angus Steers 12mths ‘Jade Park Bld’ WEANED

Adrian Tiso Family Trust – Laceby (AWN)

20 Angus Steers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Bld’

Phillip Ross Property Investments – Myrrhee (CP)

18 Angus Steers 10–11mths ‘Witherswood & fernhill’ bld

Drenched 31/5 7in1x2 WEANED

W & G Lord – Merton (CP)

17 Angus Steers 8–10mths ‘Fernhill’ bld Drenched Cydectin

10/7 7in1x2 WEANED Springbank – Hansonville (NUTR)

17 Angus steers 10-11mths ‘Jove Bld’

S Siriani – Boorhaman (NUTR)

17 Angus 10-11mths ‘Hi Spa Bld’ WEANED

JJ Nolan “Woodlands” Laceby (ELD)

15 Angus Steers ‘Alpine Angus bld’ WEANED

Paul J O’Brien – Hansonville (AWN)

15 Angus Steers 10-11mths ‘Rennylea Bld’ WEANED

DA Allen – Mansfield (CP)

14 Angus Steers ‘Riga & TeMania’ bld WEANED

C Davenport – Mansfield (CP)

13 Angus Steers 10–11mths 7in1x2 Drenched Cydectin P/O

Incarcerate WEANED

Graeme Stevens – Mansfield (CP)

13 Angus Steers 10–11mths Drenched Cydectin 31/5 7in1

Home Creek Station – Mansfield (CP)

13 Angus Steers 10–11mths ‘ Riga’ bld Drenched Cydectin

July, 5in1 WEANED

Mainton Pastoral – Merton (CP)

12 Angus Steers 10–11mths ‘Riga’ bld Drenched July 5in1x3

Incarcerate Multimin WEANED

P Dawson – Merrijig (CP)

11 Angus Steers 10 – 11mths ‘Riga’ bld, 5in1

M & C Henry – Mansfield (CP)

10 Angus Steers 9 – 10 mths ‘Glendaloch’ bld 5in1 WEANED

EM & WG Zabilowicz – Oxley (AWN)

10 Angus Steers 9-10mths ‘Jade Park Bld’ WEANED Montgomery & McQueen – South Wangaratta (NUTR)

10 Angus steers 9-10mths ‘Raff Bld’ WEANED

J Ramage – Lurg (NUTR)

10 Angus steers 9-10mths

R & K O’Brien – Taminick (NUTR)

9 Angus steers 9-10mths ‘Jade Park Bld’ Drenched Cydectin WEANED C & N McGauran – Byawatha (ELD)

8 Angus steers ‘Jarobee bld’ Drenched & Vacc WEANED

H Cameron – Mansfield (CP)

8 Angus Steers 10–11mths ‘Barragunda’ Bld 5in1x2 Drenched Cydectin P/O

P & KM Kittelty – Barnawartha (AWN)

5 Angus Steers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Bld’

HEREFORD & BLACK BALDY STEERS

SV & HJ Mahoney – Mansfield (CP)

66 Black Baldy Steers 9–10mths ‘Fernhill’ bld 7in1x2

24 Hereford Steers 9–10mths ‘Ingomar’ bld 7in1x2

CJ & FL Holland – Mansfield (CP)

50 Angus & Black Baldy steers 10–11mths ‘The Glenn & Riga’ bld 7in1x2 5in1 Drenched P/O June, WEANED Day Farms ‘Emu Park’ – Deniliquin (CP)

50 Dehorned Hereford Steers 11–12mths ‘Yarram Park & Iron Bark’ bld 7in1x2 Drenched Backlined WEANED Ross Backlund – Norong (NUTR)

33 Polled Hereford steers 11-12mths ‘Wirruna bld’ 5in1x3 Burrayang Pty Ltd – Markwood (NUTR)

30 Hereford/Angus steers X 11-12mths ex Pathfinder cows and sired by Injemira Poll Hereford Bulls WEANED

Raheen Park – Mansfield (CP)

30 Angus & Black Baldy Steers 10–11mths ‘Kunuma’ Bld 7in1

RF & VJ Allen – Byawatha (AWN)

25 Angus & Black Baldy Steers 10-11mths ‘Witherswood Bld’

WEANED

SH & ML Thrum – Greta West (AWN)

20 Angus & Black Baldy Steers 11-12mths ‘Black Aqua Bld’

WEANED Pentown Pty Ltd – Chesney Vale (AWN)

20 Angus & Black Baldy Steers 12mths ‘Black Aqua Bld’

WEANED

K & A Kimberlin-Edi (NUTR)

20 Hereford steers 8-11mths ‘Te Angie Bld’

MJ & FM Allen – Everton (AWN)

20 Angus & Black Baldy Steers 10-11mths ‘Witherswood Bld’

WEANED Greg Maroney – Eldorado (AWN)

12 Angus & Black Baldy Steers, 10-11mths, ‘Alpine Angus Bld’ MA McFadden “Lowanna” – Kilfeera (CP)

12 Hereford steers dehorned 9-10mths ‘Sugarloaf Creek & Lowanna Bld’ 5in1 drenched WEANED Barina Ag – Benalla (NUTR)

10 Angus/Hereford x steers 10-11mths ‘Banquet & Jade Park bld’ 5in1x2 Multimin WEANED

W & D Nottle – Moyhu (NUTR)

10 Hereford steers 8-10mths ‘Rostulla Bld’ WEANED

JR & NC Rutley – Mansfield (CP)

10 Hereford Steers 12mths ‘Mawarra’ bld, 7in1x2 Drenched

Vetmec F May WEANED

Glennberg Poll Herefords – Jamieson (CP)

8 Hereford Steers 7-8mths ‘Injemira’ bld Drenched 7in1x2

L Holmes – Edi (AWN)

8 Angus & Black Baldy Steers 10-12mths AI Bred ‘Clunie

Range Plantation’ WEANED 7in1x2

DN & KL Gaudion – Tatong (AWN)

6 Hereford Steers 11mths ‘Tarcombe Bld’ WEANED

M & A Gaudion – Tatong (AWN)

5 Angus & Hereford Steers 11mths WEANED

EURO & OTHER STEERS

Brewag Pty Ltd – Tallangatta Valley (CP)

70 Angus x Black Simmental Steers 9–10mths ‘Pure Brewag’

WEANED

Thynn Family Trust – Brimin (NUTR)

25 Red Angus steers 9-10mths ‘Hicks Bld’ WEANED

18 Angus/Stabliser X steers 9-10mths ‘Hicks Bld’ WEANED

Tysubi Beef – Wangaratta (NUTR)

20 Charolais steers 10-12mths ‘Tysubi bld’ WEANED

Brimin Engineering – Brimin (CP)

20 Angus Charolais X Steers 8-10mths ‘Challambi’ Bld

GC & PM Flint – Tallarook (CP)

16 Speckle Park Steers 10mths

Sherminga Shorthorns – Seymour (CP)

14 Shorthorn Steers 10–116mths ‘Royalla & Ronelle Park’ bld WEANED

P & K Hide – Kilfeera (CP)

10 Angus Charolais X Steers 8mths ‘Rangan’ bld WEANED

LG & MR Currie-Moyhu (NUTR)

10 Angus/Limousin x steers 12mths ‘Scotts Angus & Chateau Limousin Bld’ WEANED

MJ & BJ Pickworth – Mansfield (CP)

5 Red Poll Steers 10–11mths 7in1x2 Drenched Vetmec

Inj July

W.C.C Smith – Greta West (AWN)

4 Shorthorn Steers 10-12mths

ANGUS HEIFERS

D&D Sexton “Villa” – Finley (NUTR)

100 Angus Heifers 10-12mths by ‘Scott’s Angus & Witherswood bulls’ Yard WEANED

B & E Lundstrom – Mansfield (NUTR)

50 Angus Heifers 11mths ‘Te Mania Bld’ WEANED

G & CM Burrowes – Moyhu (AWN)

50 Angus Heifers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Bld’ WEANED

A.R.T.S.B. – Bonnie Doon (CP)

45 Angus Heifers 9–10mths, drenched Noramectin 31/5 7in1

Davilak Pastoral Co– Mansfield **EU ACCR.** (CP)

35 Angus Heifers 11–12mths ‘Glendaloch’ bld 5in1x3

Drenched Vetmec Inj & LV Pour July Multimin July Selovin LA

Nov 22 WEANED

B & E Burrowes – Moyhu (AWN)

30 Angus Heifers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Bld’ WEANED

G, P & D Norman-Londrigan **EU ACC ** (NUTR)

25 Angus Heifers 11-12mths ‘Banquet Bld’ Drenched Ivomec

Inj Pestiguard WEANED

P & K Del Mastro – Bowmasn Forrest (CP)

25 Angus Heifers 10mths ‘Jarobee & Witherswood’ bld

Drenched 5in1x3 WEANED

Loxley Pastoral – Killawarra (CP)

25 Angus Heifers 9–10mths ‘Jade Park & Temania’ bld

drenched 2x Vacc WEANED

S & E Cleal – Killawarra ** EU ** (NUTR)

20 Angus Heifers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Bld’ WEANED

Phillip Ross Property Investments – Myrrhee (CP)

18 Angus Heifers 10–11mths ‘Witherswood & fernhill’ bld

Drenched 31/5 7in1x2 WEANED

C. Davenport – Mansfield (CP)

15 Angus Heifers 10–11mths 7in1x2 Cydectin Incarcerate

WEANED

S Haugh & L McGregor – Mansfield (CP)

15 Angus Heifers 10–11mths ‘Witherswood & Anvil’ bld

Drenched 7in1x3 Pesti-Guard Incarcerate Multimin WEANED

Nugent & Cunningham – Docker (NUTR)

15 Angus Heifers 10-11mths ‘Landfall Bld’ WEANED

A & M Younger – 3WASF119 (AWN)

15 Angus Heifers 12mths ‘Jade Park Blood’ WEANED

Adrian Tiso Family Trust – Laceby (AWN)

15 Angus Heifers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Bld’

JJ Nolan “Woodlands” Laceby (ELD)

15 Angus Heifers ‘Alpine Angus bld’ WEANED Springbank – Hansonville (NUTR)

13 Angus Heifers 10-11mths ‘Jove Bld’

Graeme Stevens – Mansfield (CP)

13 Angus Heifers 10–11mths Drenched 31/5 7in1

M & C Henry – Mansfield (CP)

10 Angus Heifers 9–10 mths ‘Glendaloch’ bld, 5in1 WEANED

T & K Amery – Tarrawingee (CP)

10 Angus Heifers 8–9 mths ‘Jarobee & Fernhill’ bld

KT & GR Vincent – Bobinawarrah (AWN)

10 Angus Heifers 11-12mths ‘Fernhill Blood’ WEANED

EM & WG Zabilowicz – Oxley (AWN)

10 Angus Heifers 9-10mths ‘Jade Park Blood’ WEANED

S Siriani – Boorhaman (NUTR)

10 Angus Heifers 10-11mths ‘Hi Spa Bld’ WEANED

J Ramage – Lurg (NUTR)

10 Angus Heifers 9-10mths

C&N Mcgauran (ELD)

9 Angus Heifers ‘Jarobee bld’ Drenched & Vacc WEANED

Home Creek Station – Mansfield (CP)

8 Angus Heifers 10–11mths Riga’ bld Drenched July 5in1

WEANED

W & G Lord – Merton (CP)

8 Angus Heifers 8–10mths ‘Fernhill’ bld Drenched 10/7

7in1x2 WEANED H Cameron – Mansfield (CP)

8 Angus Heifers 10–11 mths ‘Barragunda’ Bld 5in1x2

Drenched

Gaywest Pastoral Co. – Jamieson (CP)

5 Angus Heifers 10–12mths ‘Landfall & Ross Rich’ bld 7in1x2

WEANED

P & KM Kittelty – Barnawartha (AWN)

5 Angus Heifers 10-11mths ‘Jade Park Bld’

HEREFORD & BLACK BALDY HEIFERS

Romargan Pty Ltd – Adelong (AWN)

45 Hereford & Poll Hereford Heifers 11-12mths ‘Merawah

Blood’

Burrayang pty ltd – Markwood (NUTR)

30 Hereford/Angus X Heifers 11-12mths ex Pathfinder cows

& by Injemira Poll Hereford Bulls WEANED

RF & VJ Allen – Byawatha (AWN)

25 Angus & Black Baldy Heifers 10-11mths ‘Witherswood

Blood’ WEANED

Raheen Park – Mansfield (CP)

25 Angus & Black Baldy Heifers 10–11mths ‘Kunuma’ Bld

7in1

SH & ML Thrum – Greta West (AWN)

20 Angus & Black Baldy Heifers 11-12mths ‘Black Aqua Bld’

WEANED

K & A Kimberlin-Edi (NUTR)

20 Hereford Heifers 8-11 months ‘Te Angie Bld’

Cloverdale – Moyhu (NUTR)

20 Hereford Heifers 8-10mths WEANED

MJ & FM Allen – Everton (AWN)

15 Angus & Black Baldy Heifers 10-11mths ‘Witherswood

Blood’ WEANED

MA McFadden “Lowanna” – Kilfeera (CP)

12 Hereford heifers 9-10mths ‘Sugarloaf Creek & Lowanna Bld’ 5in1 drenched WEANED

W & D Nottle – Moyhu (NUTR)

10 Hereford Heifers 8-10mths ‘Rostulla Bld’ WEANED

DN & KL Gaudion – Tatong (AWN)

6 Hereford Heifers 11mths ‘Tarcombe Bld’ WEANED

M & A Gaudion – Tatong (AWN)

5 Angus & Hereford Heifers 11mths WEANED

EURO & OTHER HEIFERS

Brimin Engineering – Brimin (CP)

20 Angus Charolais X Heifers 8–10mths ‘Challambi’ Bld

Tysubi Beef – Wangaratta (NUTR)

15 Charolais Heifers 10-12mths ‘Tysubi bld’ WEANED

Sherminga Shorthorns – Seymour (CP)

12 Shorthorn Heifers 10–11mths ‘Royalla & Ronelle Park’ bld

WEANED

LG & MR Currie-Moyhu (NUTR)

8 Angus/Limousin x Heifers 12mths ‘Scotts Angus & Chateau Limousin Bld’ WEANED

GC & PM Flint – Tallarook (CP)

5 Speckle Park Heifers 10mths

MJ & BJ Pickworth – Mansfield (CP)

5 Red Poll heifers 10–11 mths 7in1x2 Drenched Vetmec

Inj July

W.C.C Smith – Greta West (AWN)

3 Shorthorn Heifers 10-12mths

RECOGNITION:

Mark Walpole of Beechworth’s Fighting Gully Road was named Viticulturist of the Year at the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

North East’s finest among Halliday award winners

LOCAL wine names were among the major award winners in the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, announced in front of 125 industry guests at Melbourne’s Stokehouse Restaurant last week.

The Halliday Wine Companion Awards recognise the nation’s top wines, winemakers, viticulturists, and wineries across the country’s wine regions.

Viticulturist of the Year went to Mark Walpole of Fighting Gully Road in Beechworth, who is highly regarded in the industry as being an authority in the field.

The Dark Horse award (an award given to a winery which has achieved 5-star status for the first time) went to Alpine Valley winemakers Anderson & Marsh - a collaboration between Jo Marsh of Billy Button Wines and Eleana Anderson of Mayford Wines. Taking home Fortified Wine of the

Year was All Saints Estate for its All Saints Estate Museum Muscat NV, Rutherglen, which earned a perfect score of 100 points for fourth-generation winemaker Nicholas Brown, who took over as chief winemaker in 2007 and steers all winemaking and viticulture pursuits for All Saints Estate and its sister properties.

All Saints Estate was also nominated for 2024 Winery of The Year while Paul Dahlenburg from Eldorado Road and Baileys of Glenrowan was nominated for Winemaker of the Year.

Sparkling wines from the King Valley were mentioned as figuring prominently in the category, while pinot gris/grigio was appointed its own stand-alone category this year, making up about 10 per cent of all the white wines tasted for the guide - outnumbering both sauvignon blanc and semillon.

GOING THE DISTANCE: After completing his VCE last year, Lachy Cameron (left and above) is spending his gap year running 1500 kilometres along the Rhine River, to raise money and awareness about Menieres disease.

900km of river to go

Friday, August 9, 2013

By ANITA McPHERSON

MOSQUITO infested marshlands, 40 degree temperatures and an awkward moment on a nudist beach, have been par for the course for Lachy Cameron, as he runs 1500 kilometres along the Rhine River to raise awareness about Meniere’s disease. The determined young runner from Almonds, north of Wangaratta, has just conquered day 40 and the 600 kilometre mark of his journey, which he embarked upon in honour of his grandmother Cath who was diagnosed with the disease five

10 years ago 10 years ago

said on Facebook.

years ago.

But while steep hills and sore calves have been a challenge, he has been inspired by the support he has received from Menieres disease sufferers around the world who are following his adventures on Facebook, and have helped him raise $5278 in donations so far.

On day 34 of the marathon, Lachy even got to meet Terence Meniere, the great, great granddaughter of physician Prosper Meniere, the founder of the disease.

“It was a pleasure to meet her, and hopefully together we can help to make a difference,” he

With a pack on his back, water bottle in hand, and less than 1000 kilometres to go, Lachy is showing incredible endurance. And while he may be running alone, his family are behind him all the way.

“I think the run is even tougher than he expected, and he is even feeling a bit lonely at times as well as sore and tired,” said Mum, Wendy Cameron.

“But he says it’s nothing compared to the difficulties people who have Menieres disease are living with, and he is determined to keep going for them.”

White Box - An essential part of our environment

White Box is an important species for wildlife especially as a winter nectar source when they normally flower.

By IAN DAVIDSON and CHRIS TZAROS

THIS week’s article features White Box Eucalyptus albens, a native tree that grows locally and is very important for some of our region’s wildlife.

It is more obvious now because it is flowering abundantly.

It is a tree growing to 25 m high with fibrous-flaky ‘boxtype’ bark that is grey with whitish patches that persist on the full trunk, smooth above on the outer branches, which shed in short ribbons.

The trunk of old trees may reach a diameter of over 1 metre.

The juvenile leaves of White Box are rounder and larger than adult leaves.

The specific name albens comes from Latin meaning white, referring to the general whitish appearance of the tree and the white wax on the flower buds and fruits and thus the common name of White Box.

White Box woodlands were once widespread in a narrow band along the inland slopes of the Great Divide on mostly higher fertility gentle slopes and plains, broad shallow valleys and on the lower slopes of hills and mountains.

As a vegetation community it is now rare occurring mostly as remnant strips on roadsides and small patches on reserves and as paddock trees.

The diverse grass and wildflower understorey that was part of these woodlands

is critically endangered.

These trees with their very hard wood were particularly important for our traditional owners the Bangerang to make tools and who used their bark for making many practical and cultural imple-

ments including coolamons, shields and roofing.

In fact, there are still many living Bangerang “scarred” trees present along many of our roadsides, for example parts of the Murray Valley Highway and Yarrawonga Road.

Nectar feeding birds such as honeyeaters (including the Regent Honeyeater) and lorikeets (including Swift Parrot) are attracted to these trees because other nectar sources are scarce in winter.

This includes the endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot.

The nectar is also a food source for gliders, native moths, butterflies and other insects, which in turn provide food for insect-eating birds.

Hollows that form in mature trees provide refuge and nesting sites for many species.

It is relatively easy to spot White Box trees at present from other species including Grey Box, due to the large amount of creamy white flowers present, especially on the ground under these trees, dropped by cockatoos browsing on them.

If you are walking or riding along Yarrawonga Road or along Grey Box Track or Adams Road in the Warby Ranges National Park, check out these large trees in flower.

LIVING UP TO ITS NAME: White Box patch note the larger juvenile leaves on the saplings in the foreground and on the right.

PHOTO: Ian Davidson

Fun in the sun at Apex Park

By KURT HICKLING

LAYING AROUND: Lexy and Remi Binney hang out together.

HAPPY TIMES: Roxanne Brown and Luna Leonard lap up a perfect winter’s day.

PARK FUN: Catherine and Nora Mayhew pause for a quick photo.

CHILLING OUT: Mateo and John Baragula enjoy some father and son time.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Rory Heather, Miranda Heather, Jessie Hann, Jodie Smith and Violet Smith lap up a perfect day.

HANGING OUT: Hamish Verstage, Daisy Smith, Charlotte Smith, Alice Verstage and Lane Heather hang out on the rope bridge.

RHYTHM: Carter and Matilda Wilson hold a perfect tune.

SUNNY conditions becoming more regular were the ticket to an outing at Apex Park with families soaking up the outdoors over the last week or so.

PHOTOS: Kurt Hickling

Wangaratta Farmers market

THE Wangaratta Farmers market will be held tomorrow morning in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cathedral from 8am until 12pm.

Shop for seasonal fruit and vegetables and a wide range of artisan products such as breads, cheeses, preserves, meats, wine and nuts, which are locally grown or made, from more than 20 stalls.

Wang Repair Café at the market

VOLUNTEERS from the Wang Repair Café will be on hand at the Wangaratta Farmers Market on Saturday morning, ready to repair broken items and keep them out of landfill.

Repairs of electronics, garden tools, textiles and more can all be tackled by the team with more information available at Wangrepaircafe.org or Facebook.

Cathedral College presents Singin’ in the Rain

CATHEDRAL College Wangaratta will present Singin’ in the Rain JR, based on the classic movie musical, at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre tonight and Saturday night at 7.30pm.

The entertaining show features plenty of comedy, snappy dialogue and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards, performed by a cast of middle and senior school students.

Enjoy the tinsel town favourite for all ages with tickets available now at wpacc.com.au.

Discover wetlands and waterways at the gallery

- they can be thick and textural, highlighting brush strokes, or smooth and easily manipulated to get hard, distinct edges,” she said.

Flirtation with Abstraction exhibition

AN exhibition called Flirtation with Abstraction featuring the work of artist Frank Burgers is showing in Gallery 2 at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.

Working with planes of flat colour and structural line, Burgers’ keeps his visual language consistent in response to his immediate environment and experience, whether capturing representation or figurative scenes.

See it before it comes to an end on Sunday.

Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award

THE eighth Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award and exhibition is open in Gallery One at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.

The Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award is a biennial event, presented in partnership with the Kyamba Foundation, which celebrates the diversity and strength of Australian textile art.

worked as an engineer, however, her passion is art appreciation, and making art.

The 2023 exhibition includes 29 ground-breaking works entered by artists from across the nation and it will be on display until August 20.

Wetlands and Waterways features the paintings of local artist Helen Hill and her daughter-in-law Yanina (Yanya) Hill; a self-taught watercolour artist from Perth.

Helen said what appealed to her about the wetland is that it’s constantly changing - the water and vegetation taking on different hues over time and with the seasons.

She said most of her works are acrylic on canvas - a medium she has a preference for because they dry quicker than oils.

“They have many qualities such as transparency or opaqueness

“The intensity of the colour can also be enhanced by a spray varnish on completion.”

Helen said while in larger scale works she has chosen to depict the land around the wetland as lush, green and quite colourful, smaller works highlight its diverse vegetation and habitat.

Accompanying Helen’s paintings are Yanya’s watercolours, which focus on birds and plants and species unique to Australia, which she has discovered since moving here about a year ago.

Yanya is originally from Minsk, Belarus where she studied and

She says she likes to use watercolours to capture the delicate features of birds and their habitat, hoping to also remind us we should be protecting our native wildlife.

Helen said she has observed first-hand how Yanya’s talents have developed over the years; the pair’s shared love of Winton Wetlands presenting the ideal subject for a collaborative exhibition.

Wetlands and Waterways by Helen Hill and Yanina Hill can be seen this weekend from 10am until 2pm and on Monday from 10am until 4pm at the Art Gallery on Ovens, before it comes to an end.

Wangaratta community market

THE Wangaratta community market runs every Sunday at Moore Than Swimming, located at 11-13 Mason Street in Wangaratta, from 8am until 1pm.

There is a wide range of stalls to browse and refreshments are available.

Stalls are available for $25 each (must have own market stall insurance) with more information via the market’s Facebook page.

TREASURED LANDSCAPE: Helen Hill’s paintings of Winton Wetlands, being exhibited at the Art Gallery on Ovens, celebrate its beauty and significance to the region.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

AN exhibition by two artists who found inspiration in Winton Wetlands and its abundant habitat, is being held at the Art Gallery on Ovens.

Local businesses boosted by energy efficiency grants

By LEAH ANDERSON-BYRNE

ALPINE Shire is about to get even more delicious, with Ovens business Pepo Farms receiving a $25,000 Federal Government grant for a new chocolate kettle and pan.

Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines announced 24 local businesses across Indi will share in $554,906 as part of the Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Program.

The 24 local businesses were awarded between $14,628 and $25,000 to replace or upgrade existing equipment to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

“Small and medium businesses are crucial to our local economy and I am excited to see small businesses across Indi supported to invest in efficient energy use,” Dr Haines said.

“These grants empower small business owners to manage their energy use and reduce their power bills.

“Right across Indi, business owners tell me rising electricity bills make running a small business increasingly challenging.

“These grants offer relief to 24 local businesses that will be saving energy for years to come.”

Pepo Farms chief executive officer Marcus Warner said the company is one of the largest producers and manufacturers of chocolate products in the North East.

“The equipment we’re investing in is a more efficient chocolate kettle which melts thousands of litres of chocolate into liquid form to then handcoat our pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, walnuts and whatever else we need,” he said.

“The kettle and pan we’re replacing are nearly 20 years old so the upgrade will be a much more efficient piece of equipment and will reduce energy running costs and be able to melt more chocolate, more efficiently and more frequently.

“We have 12 months now to execute on the grant agreement starting from September first; we’re currently talking to local and interstate manufacturers for the kettle as it is a specialist piece of equipment but we’re looking to have it installed in the next six months.”

Mr Warner said there were three key benefits of the funding.

“One will be more efficient processing of our products,” he said.

“There will be a significant reduction in energy usage and a chance to develop new products.

“We’ve never done a product using white or milk chocolate and that may give us flexibility into new products in the future.

“It also gives us more opportunity for contract chocolate coating for local businesses, which we already do a little of.”

Under the grants scheme a Mount Beauty restaurant also received $21,000 for an oven and coolroom replacement.

Gang Plate Layers Cottage shaping up

By CORAL COOKSLEY

THOUSANDS of volunteer

hours have helped significant restoration work for the Gang Plate Layers Cottage in Harper Avenue, which is headed for completion around Christmas this year dependent on some additional funding.

Close to hitting a fouryear mark since works began, the project, which was instigated by Beechworth Lions Club, aims to provide a home base for local community organisations without one as well as for the Lions Club.

Local Lions president Iris Mannik OAM said the project had been considered worthwhile with its community benefits.

Works had been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic interruptions.

Around $110,000 has been invested into the project from federal, state and local government grants.

“We are so proud of what Lions has achieved,” Ms Mannik said.

“And in particular with Christine Luckman’s many volunteered hours includ-

ing research, bargaining and bartering for materials and fixtures.”

Only one of three gang plate layers cottages left standing in the nation, club treasurer Christine said the cottage with significant history is believed to have been built in the 1890s.

The cottage now sports a fresh look recently painted with heritage colours inside and out as well as new carpets, kitchen and bathroom flooring laid.

Total funding so far has come from state government, federal government and Indigo Shire Council, along with voluntary labour from Lions Club members, discounted materials from local businesses, some donations of items from local community groups as well as working bees, and some individual donations.

With Boomerang Bags now without a home due to the sale of the building where they were housed, Iris said the organisation hoped to share a room with the Lions Club when the project is completed as both organisations work together on disaster relief projects

such as floods and fires.

The project was shortlisted in this year’s Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria (KABV) Sustainability Awards in the Cultural Heritage Category, which was judged last Friday.

Christine said from a heritage aspect, among items retained had been marine pine ceilings and a double distinctive corner fireplace with an interesting spiral chimney.

“We have replaced the front verandah which is perfect for the period of the cottage,” she said.

“We had a lot of trouble getting the floorboard timber.”

Christine said she found a heritage Lion’s head door knocker of the period from a second-hand outlet.

“We want the building to be environmentally friendly and economical to save on running costs for the future too,” she said.

The project has been a three-way partnership between Beechworth Lions Club, Indigo Shire Council and Beechworth Corrections Centre with help from its community work team.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: How the cottage used to look.

IMPRESSIVE: Gang Plate Layers Cottage front with new veranda, roof, north side wall, and split system. PHOTO: Coral Cooksley

UPGRADING: Pepo Farms owner and chocolatier Jay Rivett is pleased their 20-year-old chocolate kettle is soon to be replaced thanks to a recent grant.

PHOTO: Brodie Everist

Finding truth in the news

By CORAL COOKSLEY

A HIGHLY respected media ethics expert with a significant background in journalism and as a news editor has advocated in a changing media landscape people need to use trusted information sources for news.

Senior Research Fellow from Melbourne University Centre for Advancing Journalism Dr Denis Muller delivered the 21st George Briscoe Kerferd Oration at the Grand Oaks Resort, Mayday Hills on Sunday.

Dr Muller captivated an audience of around 200 people as well as more than 300 tuned into the streamlined event from across the region and beyond with his provocative presentation titled ‘Living through the News Media Revolution.’

He spoke about a near three-decade revolution and part of bigger digital one.

“It has changed almost every aspect of social life, but one of its most consequential effects has been on communications and the news media,” he said.

“Humanity is now interconnected in ways that have no parallel in history.

“Its effects on the news media has brought blessings and curses in almost equal measure.

“Politically, it has also

brought a great paradox - we have never been so interconnected yet never so fragmented and polarised.”

Four themes framed his presentation with strengths and weaknesses of professional mass media before the revolution; impact of the revolution on the professional mass media and separately regional media in particular, as well as what might be done to see that the media comes through the revolution in a condition to serve democratic societies better than they do now.

Dr Muller said he hoped

people would gain a better understanding of the pressures faced by professional mass media from his talk and realise it is a process of getting through a revolution of a kind that has never been seen since the Industrial Revolution.

“It’s one that will take time and we can’t foresee the outcome,” he said.

Dr Muller said people needed to understand the revolution being lived through as well as making careful and informed choices about news sources used.

He said the fundamental

role for journalists is to provide a bedrock of reliable information on which people can make political, economic, and social choices.

“If that bedrock is tainted by opinion, wrong facts or disinformation then the basis for people to make those choices is unreliable and that’s a fundamental disservice to democracy,” he said.

“The importance of impartiality in news reporting can’t be overstated.”

Beechworth’s Roberta Baker gained a sense of optimism with glimmers of hope for the

media terrain from the orator’s talk.

She said advice taken away from Dr Muller’s talk is to access accurate news, check sources, trust them and be sure that what you’re reading has been verified as factually correct.

“I also took great heart from his advice about community to come back together, step up and become more involved and prominent in your local community as a way of mitigating the fake news that’s out there,” she said.

Dr Muller said the destruc-

tive term of fake news is cynical, misleading and self-contradictory.

Kerferd Oration chair Ross Kearney said Dr Muller delivered a thought provoking and entertaining Oration.

“He asked if we can identify if the information we receive is factual news or an opinion, if the presenter is accountable for the information and if the information is verified; noting that there are a lack of these protocols in social media.

“He delivered some very clear and strong messages about what people should do in seeking accurate information from trusted sources.”

Event MC, Beechworth’s Jamie Kronborg, a journalist and former Ovens and Murray Advertiser editor, welcomed the special guest as well as George Briscoe Kerferd’s descendants attending the ceremony.

Mr Kronborg also gave a brief outline of George Briscoe Kerferd’s history as well as for the town of Beechworth to mark the 170th anniversary of the naming of the town this year.

George Briscoe Kerferd’s great, great grandson Nathan Kirkwood‘s presented the George Kerferd Oration Medal to Dr Muller.

The Kerferd Oration can viewed at www.kerferdoration.org

TEAM KERFERD ORATION: Quercus Beechworth deputy chair Anne Geddis, Kerferd Oration chair Ross Kearney, committee member Virginia Mansell, George Kerferd’s great great grandson Nathan Kirkwood, Dr Dennis Muller, George Kerferd’s great grandson Ray Kirkwood with event MC Jamie Kronborg at last Sunday’s Kerferd Oration.

Report shows the high price of prevalent pest

By BRODIE EVERIST

A NEW report has confirmed what many in the Alpine Shire already know – feral deer are expensive.

The Canberra-based Centre for Invasive Species Solutions has estimated the cost of Australia’s growing feral deer population at a hefty $91.3 million in 2021.

The report estimated the losses to Australian agriculture in 2021 at about $69.1 million, with government funded management and research costing around $17.8 million.

The impacts on motor vehicles was estimated at around $3.3 million, with train impacts involving deer adding a further $1.2 million.

Andreas Glanznig, chief executive of the centre, said feral deer numbers are expanding, as are their impacts.

“Without concerted action to control feral deer numbers the report finds that their costs are set to jump over the next few decades, with Australian agriculture bearing the brunt,” he said.

Peter Jacobs, president of Upper Ovens Valley Landcare said deer densities are high across the alpine region due to the large tracts of forest combined with open spaces.

“Deer are absolutely right through from the river going up to the highest mountains,” he said.

“They also like coming out and grazing on open country on that interface commonly within a kilometre of the forest boundary.

“The deer will come out and graze on crops, pastures, gardens, vineyards and orchards and all sorts of things and then go back into the forest again during the day.”

Mr Jacobs, who also works parttime for the Invasive Species Council, said sambar are the most common deer in the Alpine Shire, but there are also isolated populations of fallow deer.

He also cited a 2022 report suggesting that feral deer in Victoria could cost the community between $1.5 billion and $2.2 billion over the next 30 years if they are not controlled.

The report by Frontier Economics and commissioned by the Invasive Species Council similarly shows

Timber plantations also seeing deer impact

MYRTLEFORD has some of the worst-affected timber plantations from feral deer across the Hancock Victoria Plantations estate, according to Mick Evans, general manager for HVP Plantations’ northern region.

“Across the entire HVP estate, we have seen around 30 per cent of age five trees sustain stem damage caused by animals rubbing or bark stripping, with our plantations in the Myrtleford area suffering the most damage,” he said.

“Significant populations of feral deer in the Ovens area have certainly been a concern for us, other primary producers and local communities.”

Mr Evans said HVP has established strong relationships with Parks Victoria and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), together with landcare and catchment management authorities, to encourage strong collaboration amongst the broader community.

“We’re proud of our contribution to the Victorian Deer Control Strategy Regional Plans, the National Feral Deer Action Plan, and many other groups that have come together to discuss and share knowledge on deer management options and impacts.

a significant cost to agriculture through feral deer grazing and landowner management of the pest, and losses to the forestry industry.

“We’re seeing a pretty consistent picture there about the cost of deer,” Mr Jacobs said.

However, he also said neither report took into account the environmental cost of feral deer, whether through stripping the bark off trees, wallowing or competing with other native grazing animals.

“The damage to our forests, damage to riparian areas on the rivers are all big costs which aren’t accounted for in these economic costs,” he said.

Email

“Once you get to the high country there’s a real concern they’re getting into those really sensitive alpine fields and peatlands.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action said the State Government is implementing the

Victorian Deer Control Strategy –a state-wide plan for government and authorities to manage deer populations across the state and coordinate where deer control action needs to be prioritised.

According to the spokesperson, $19.25 million over four years has been allocated to the program.

“In 2022-23 nearly 30 projects have been supported to reduce the impact of deer across the state,” they said.

“These projects include ground and aerial deer control works in the alpine region around Bright including at Mount Buffalo and Mount Bogong.”

“Recent community gatherings held in Buckland and Buffalo Valleys to open the lines of communication with government departments and local landholders have been vital to the progress we are seeing today.

“A whole-of-community approach is required and underway for the control, protection and monitoring efforts across Victoria to mitigate animal damage.

“It’s important this is undertaken in a safe, sustainable, collaborative and cost-effective way.”

THE DAMAGE DONE: Upper Ovens Valley Landcare president Peter Jacobs showing tree stripped of bark from a suspected deer.

Location, quality build and presentation at top end

SET on 1442 m2 this beautifully presented 4 bedroom, 2 living room home built by Rob Humphreys in 2012 is set in a magnificent quiet location in Wangaratta’s premier Estate.

Four bedrooms with twin walk-in robes to main. The main bedroom strategically on the East End of home. East end includes huge garage and utility room. Rear backyard access from garage. Internal access from garage to kitchen that displays all that this home design incorporates. High ceilings, vaulted ceilings, gas hydronic floor heat-

ing, 2 new ducted evaporative coolers, 2 instantaneous gas hot water services to ensure that the home is a beautiful place to live in climatic comfort control. Kitchen aspect looks over this spectacular block towards the creek is able to be enjoyed by huge outdoor area with natural gas connected BBQ. Neat lawns and garden that are accommodated with five zone sprinkler system and a smaller 5 metre by two metre utility shed for tools and the mower.

Bedroom wing with easy access to rumpus room has three good sized bed-

The region’s best property guide located inside your local paper every week and online anytime.

northeast

rooms with built in robes. Main bathroom with shower and separate bath. Good size laundry, access outside to western side of home that allows quick drying and winter warmth.

So if you’re after a superbly built bespoke home that’s all established and no questions about what the building cost might be this established home is the option. Caesar stone benchtops and beautifully designed open plan living ensures quality buying for a lifetime of good living.

Inspections by appointment.

$1,280,000

wangaratta.nutrienahrcourts. com.au/L19193618

If you’re not in the North East Property Guide, you’re not in the market. property guide

Tarra’ properties offer a unique opportunity for producers

WELL-KNOWN locals Justin and Amanda Keane are selling their property at Tarrawingee as they relocate to expand their farming operation.

The couple moved to River Road three and a half years ago and now this mixed production potential property offers an outstanding opportunity for new owners.

The property, which is for sale as a whole or in three separate lots, has been well fertilised, and is in a healthy rainfall area. The land is flat to slightly undulating and is fully pasture improved, divided into three main paddocks.

“Extensive fertiliser has been dispersed across the property, including 2-tonne of lime and a heavy application of super phosphate, plus pasture renovation,” Mr Keane said.

“The property offers flexibility and opportunity for owners to grow whatever they like there, as it’s good enough country to grow crop or pasture, fatten cattle or sheep.”

A three-bedroom brick family home “Carlow”, built in 1998, consists of two bathrooms, study and two generous living, includes a carport for two vehicles, plus a three-bay machinery shed. The 72.9ha, known as Across the Creek, is suited to

pasture production, livestock breeding and livestock grazing. It has more than 1km frontage to Hodgson Creek, which borders property to the south, and is only a 15-minute drive from Wangaratta.

There is good stock water via one dam plus four concrete stock troughs. Water to the stock troughs is delivered via a bore with submersible solar pump.

“Water security is excellent and the property is also in a very reliable rainfall area,” Mr Keane said.

Across the Creek is priced at $2.15 million, Pete’s $1.2 million, and the residence “Carlow” is $1.2 million.

GENESIS G80 ELECTRIFIED

■ ELECTRIFYING:

By CHRIS RILEY

GENESIS G80 Electrified is as its name suggests an electrified version of Genesis’ large G80 luxury sedan.

But it is a conversion rather than a dedicated EV, evidenced by the blanked-out radiator grille.

G80 is popular with hire car drivers because it offers plenty of splash for relatively little cash.

However, with a small boot and tight rear seat the electrified version may not be quite as appealing.

STYLING

G80 is a big, impressivelooking car that radiates quality.

It sits a shade over 5.0 metres at 5005mm, with a wheelbase of 3010mm. It’s wide too, at 1925mm and stands 1467mm high.

The raked, fastback design is appealing and in the electrified version features a blanked-out version of the signature crest grille with G-Matrix pattern, with two-stripe quad matrix headlights.

There are three models from which to choose, two petrol and one electric version: 2.5T 2WD, priced from $87,200, 3.5T Luxury AWD, from $116,200 and Electrified, from $147,000 – all before onroad costs.

A choice of 11 exterior colours is offered, 10 shared with G80 2.5T and 3.5T – plus an exclusive hue called Matira Blue.

Named after the beach of the same name, Matira Blue uses a special pigment that

changes colour from different angles – from cobalt to emerald-blue and turquoise.

Our test vehicle, G80 Electrified, was finished in this colour which looks like a sparkling metallic green in full sunlight, but almost becomes black in deep shade or at night.

The glass roof is divided into two sections which look like they could be solar panels (and we later learned that is indeed what they are).

The interior features threezone climate air and is finished in a combination of tobacco brown and this weird, matte, flowery pastel design for the surrounds with suede for the headlining, pillars and rear shelf along with touches of stainless steel.

The interior design is apparently inspired by Korean architectural philosophy that emphasises the ‘Beauty of White Space’, to create a serene and luxurious experience for occupants.

In line with Genesis’ commitment to sustainable mobility, G80 Electrified uses low environmental impact natural and recycled materials throughout the cabin.

The rule of fives applies to after sales care, with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, five-year roadside assistance and five-year complimentary servicing with pickup and drop off

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS

G80 Electrified is offered with a single battery-electric, all-wheel drive powertrain that delivers 272kW of power and 700Nm of torque, with a 136kW/350Nm electric motor

front and rear.

SAFETY

G80 Electrified scores five stars for safety.

The safety package is extensive, starting with 10 airbags, including centre bags

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) provides Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist detection (FCA - Car/Ped/Cyc), Junction Turning/Junction Crossing function (FCA - JT/JC), LaneChange Oncoming/LaneChange Side function (FCA - LO/LS) and Evasive Steering Assist function (FCA w/ ESA).

Smart Cruise Control (SCC) offers Stop & Go function (SCC w/ S&G) plus Machine Learning function (SCC w/ ML).

The system combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Smart Cruise Control (SCC) to learn driver patterns and habits, tailoring acceleration and following-distance.

DRIVING

It’s an impressive looking thing.

But for a big car interior space is far from expansive.

While Dr Who’s TARDIS is bigger inside than out, the futuristic G80 Electrified is exactly the opposite – larger outside than in.

A wide centre console separates driver and front passenger creating a narrow seating position.

With an 87.2kWh battery, energy consumption is a claimed 19.1kWh/100km with a maximum driving range of 520km based on the newer WLTP testing protocol.

The solar roof system helps to recharge the batteries and

AT A GLANCE

avoids the battery from going flat when the car is parked for long periods.

Depending on the location, weather conditions and time of year, it can add around 0.7kWh of energy in a day which translates to an extra 3km of range.

It’s not to be sneezed at because over the course of a year that can add up to 266.5kWh and an extra 1150 free kilometres.

Performance is typically EV, quick out of the blocks and emphatic, belying its 2325kg heft.

The dash from 0 to 100km/h takes 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 225km/h.

Riding on 19-inch wheels with chunky rubber and a low centre of gravity, it has a planted, big car feel and goes ‘ker-thump’ over bumps and potholes in the road, retaining its composure at all times.

A Disconnector Actuator System (DAS) can separate or connect the motor and drive shaft according to driving conditions, including vehicle speed and driving mode.

The system lets G80 seamlessly switch between RWD and AWD to maximise efficiency.

G80 Electrified features a 400V/800V multi rapid-charging system that lets customers plug into a range of charging infrastructures.

The driving motor and inverter can boost the voltage from 400V to 800V - the optimal level for the system - for stable charging performance.

The charge port is located conveniently at the front of the car, hidden behind a door in the grille.

RWD, PRICED FROM $87,200 GENESIS G80

AWD, PRICED FROM $116,200

GENESIS G80 ELECTRIFIED, PRICED FROM $147,000

Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact Genesis for drive-away prices.

SPECIFICATIONS (Genesis G80 Electrified, Twin electric motors, Single speed reduction gear, AWD)

RATINGS:

Looks: 7.5/10; Performance: 8/10; Safety: 8.5/10; Thirst: 7.5/10; Practicality: 6/10; Comfort: 7/10; Tech: 8/10; Value: 7/10; Overall: 7.4/10

Plugged into a 350kW rapid charger, Electrified G80 can charge its battery from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 22 minutes.

A V2L (Vehicle-To-Load) feature allows households to draw power from the car if needed, with household-grade 3.6kW output).

Preview Electronic Control Suspension (Pre-view ECS), with information supplied from the front camera and navigation system, also helps to create the optimum driving experience.

A world-first, stereoscopic 3D instrument cluster uses a camera that recognises the driver’s eyes to present the display in 3D, with three themes that can be selected individually.

Augmented navigation uses the Surround View camera, the windscreen camera and front radar along with navigation data to form AR view navigation.

SUMMING UP

As much as we like the G80 Electrified in principle, we just couldn’t live with it.

Cramming the batteries and

a second motor into a chassis designed to accept a single petrol engine is too much of a compromise.

Give us the same set up in a dedicated roomier SUV and we’re good to go though.

ENGINE:

Battery: 87.2kWh

Configuration: 2 x 136kW electric motors

Maximum Power: 272 kW

Maximum Torque: 700 Nm

Fuel Type: Electric Energy consumption: 19.1kWh/100km

Range: 520km (WLTP)

CO2 Emissions: N/A

DRIVELINE:

Single speed reduction gear, all-wheel drive

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:

Length: 5005 mm

Wheelbase: 3010 mm

Width: 1925 mm

Height: 1495 mm

Turning Circle: 11.64 metres

Kerb Mass: 2325 kg

STANDARD WARRANTY:

Five years / unlimited kilometres

That’s G80 Electrified . . . as in converted from petrol.

Public

Rural City Connection

Public

Nominations are now open for the Rural City of Wangaratta’s Australia Day Awards 2024. Anyone can nominate a citizen, young citizen, community event or project that has inspired them over the last year. Nominations close at 4pm, Friday 3 November 2023

Road Naming proposal: Outcrop Road, Glenrowan

Council is proposing to name an unnamed government road.

Council is conducting community consultation on the proposed name “Outcrop Road GLENROWAN” as part of the official naming rules for places in Victoria. Submission can be made up to 5pm on Friday 18 August 2023.

How to make a Submission

· By Email: planningmail@wangaratta.vic.gov.au

· Mail: PO Box 238, Wangaratta VIC 3676

· In Person: Planning and Building customer service counter, Wangaratta Government Centre, corner Ford and Ovens Street, Wangaratta.

Please include “Road Naming proposal: Outcrop Road GLENROWAN” in the subject line of your correspondence

For further information please visit, www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/Your-Council/Publicnotices or call the Planning Team on 03 5722 8121.

Killawarra and Peechelba Residents

A community meeting to share the results of the recent Placemaking Survey will be held at 6pm on Wednesday 16 August 2023 at the Peechelba Community Centre.

Council will highlight key themes from the Rural Placemaking Project including new and priority projects.

We look forward to seeing residents of Killawarra and Peechelba then!

Please join us to hear more about Electric Vehicles!

This event is being held in partnership with Wangaratta Landcare & Sustainability and will be an opportunity to learn the basics of Electric Vehicle ownership including, how they work, the cost to buy and run, how they connect to our homes and how you charge them at home and on the road.

For more information and to book your free ticket please visit, https://www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/ Residents/Events/Electric-Vehicles-Show-Tellage

Public

Kindergarten Enrolments Open

If you are looking to send your child to kindergarten in 2024 Wangaratta Children’s Services have places available! There are integrated and sessional programs available for both 3 and 4-year-olds.

For more information, please visit https://www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/ Residents/Families-and-children

The annual Community Grants program is closing soon! Make sure you submit an application for a project in your community by Tuesday 15 August 2023!

For more information, assistance or to apply, please visit, https://www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/YourCouncil/Grants-and-funding/Community-Grants or email communitygrants@wangaratta.vic.gov.au.

Homelessness Week

If you or someone you know needs help finding a place to stay, a healthy meal, or someone to talk with please visit, www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/ communityrelief

And if you are able to make a difference by volunteering your time or making a donation, including financial, to one of our local organisations committed to assisting people experiencing homelessness please reach out to the organisations directly at, www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/ communityrelief

Tenders

T4597 Weed vegetation and pest control services in Native Vegetation Areas

Tender closes at 5pm on Thursday 17 August 2023

C41178 Merriwa Park Retaining Wall - Stage 2

Tender closes at 2pm on Wednesday 30 August 2023

Further details may be obtained by visiting Council’s website at, https://www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/Your-Council/ Working-with-Council. To discuss upcoming projects in your community please contact Council on 03 5722 0888

Positions vacant

Careers

wangarattachronicle.com.au

37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677 5723 0101 classifieds@ nemedia.com.au

WHENTO BOOK BYEMAIL

INPERSONBYPHONESELLING

Chronicle Classifieds 2pm business day prior to print North East Jobs 3pm Friday OPEN HOURS 9AM TO 5PM

Healthy Eating

Vegetarian/Vegan Cooking

Come and learn how to cook delicious vegetarian and vegan meals.

These will add a refreshing variety to your diet.

When: Tuesday Evenings

May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15

Time: 7 - 8:30pm

Where: Seventh-day Adventist Church Hall 10-12 Phillipson Street, Wangaratta. Recipes will be provided and you will be able to sample the dishes.

EVERTON TENNIS CLUB AGM

will be held at Everton Hall on Wednesday, Aug 30, 2023, at 7pm.

Everyone welcome.

For all yourclassified advertising needs

Ph 03 5723 0101

TENDERS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

To Visit Visited

MISCELLANEOUS items, equipment, brica-brac, bike, books, cd’s, dvd’s and lots more, Saturday 12, 7.30am - 2pm, Unit 3/155 Phillipson Street, Wangaratta.

ACAR BUY ONLINE

2 WEEKS REGIONAL WITH PICTURE from $42

INDIAN

First time in Wangaratta

Sexy Bombshell

Ph. 0432 023 386

LARGE 2 bedroom, self-contained unit, carport, storage shed, fenced yard, suit quite couple/person, $320 per week plus bond. Ph 0427 279 526.

OLD farm house to rent, Greta district, 2 bedroom 1 bathroom, phone Ned 0407 516 221.

CONCRETING - Big or small jobs. Paths, driveways, shed slabs, verandahs. 15 years experience. For a free quote phone Trev Anderson on 0422 200 761.

DANIEL’S Carpentry and Maintenance Solutions. Servicing Wangaratta and surrounds. For a free quote and examples of my work find us on Facebook or www. danielscarpentry.com or phone 0413 660 636.

DOG TRAINER , behavioural assessments, strategic programs, implementing positive outcomes. E frank@ franksdogtraining.au or 0418 314 610.

IRONBARK

Machinery, automotive and small engine servicing and repairs, trailer repairs and professional welding services. Ph 03 5722 4460.

MARKS Lawn Care, reasonable prices, ride on mowing, edging, clean up, spraying and any waste removal. Ph 0427 603 156.

ANGUS bulls, very quiet, good growth, visit mmas.com.au for videos, data and pricing, Marramungee Angus Stud. Ph 0429 809 288.

Classifieds Work!

Phone: 03 5723 0101

Classifieds

General Classifieds: wangarattachronicle.com.au

Employment: northeastjobs.com.au

Real Estate: northeastproperty.com.au

WANGARATTA’S MARKET PLACE WITH OVER 40,000 READERS EACH WEEK IN PRINT AND ONLINE

JOBS AT INDIGO

CASUAL ASSISTANT GARDENER

An exciting opportunity exists for a motivated all-rounder to join our busy gardening team at the Brown Family Wine Group’s HQ in Milawa.

What’s involved: Reporting to our Horticulturist your primary responsibilities will be to support the gardening team with the day-to-day management of our extensive grounds, including mowing, weeding, spraying, irrigation, assisting in the Kitchen Garden and a range of horticultural enterprises. In addition to this you may be asked to assist with the set-up of our on-site events.

About you: Enthusiastic and motivated you will have previous gardening/landscaping experience, enjoy working outdoors and able to work unsupervised or as part of a team.

Ideally you will have a ChemCert Accreditation, Working at Heights, and Chainsaw tickets as well as a HR Forklift Licence.

in order to meet the physical requirements of this role.

a great work culture, above award wages and generous product discounts just to name a few. More Information: Further information and a position description can be obtained by emailing Allyce at: Find

Packaging/Machine Operators (Casual)

Brown Family Wine Group is one of Australia’s most loved and respected wine companies built on over 130 years’ experience in quality winemaking, market leading innovation and family values that are at the heart of everything we do as a business.

We’re currently seeking casual operators to join our production team, working in a state-of-the-art production facility based in Milawa.

About the role: These are casual roles responsible for operating a wide range of packaging equipment, including set up, operation, monitoring, shut down and cleaning. Operators are required to continuously monitor product and component quality and to conduct scheduled quality checks according to procedures and HACCP charts as well as complete the required quality and production records. Full training will be provided to the successful applicants. About you: Ideally, you will have previous experience in a manufacturing environment (preferred but not essential), have a mechanical aptitude, positive and inclusive attitude, and familiarity with computers would also be very desirable the successful candidates.

If you enjoy a busy production environment and possess the attributes outlined above, we would love to hear from you.

Apply by scanning the QR code below which will take you directly to the SEEK advertisement.

For further information, please email careers@brownfwg.com.au

Beechworth

Beechworth

Thompson & Southern Law Practice are seeking a Full-Time Receptionist/Legal Secretary to join their team and a Part-Time Receptionist/Legal Secretary for a 12-month maternity leave position to join their team.

The successful applicant must have:

- Excellent communication skills

- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office

- Ability to multi-task and prioritise.

- Previous legal and administration experience would be an advantage but not necessary. Position description available on request. Above award wages.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, August 25, 2023

Please send your resumes to admin@wangarattalegal.com.au

EDUCATION SUPPORT OFFICER

PART TIME (0.73 FTE) TERMS 3 & 4 2023

Applications are invited for an enthusiastic, energetic, practical and organised person for the position of education support. The successful candidate will demonstrate initiative and will enjoy collaboration and working with adolescents.

The responsibilities will include support in the classroom, camps, excursions and other duties in line with the applicant’s skills and interests.

Qualifications or experience in secondary education support would be an advantage.

Employment details are available on the College website, www.mcm.vic.edu.au or contact recruitment@mcm.vic.edu.au

Applications close 4pm, Monday, August 14.

Marian College is a year 7-12 coeducational Catholic School. We are committed to Child Safe standards and promote the wellbeing and inclusion of all children.

Vacancies

MECHANICAL DESIGN DRAFTSPERSON

BINKS (nee Small), Bronwyn Emily. 12/3/1946 – 4/8/2023

Passed away peacefully August 4, 2023. Aged 77 years.

For further details and employment opportunities visit northeasthealth.org.au/careers

WE ARE HIRING

WELDER/

Whitlands Engineering Whitlands Engineering

BOILER MAKER

Whitlands Engineering aka SuperAxe is located in North East Victoria, manufacturing world class firewood processing machinery.

We are looking to expand our team further and are seeking a full-time person with experience in fabrication & welding. Your skills will be utilised in the fabrication of various chassis builds and componentry.

The workshop location is 35 mins from Mansfield (20 mins from Whitfield) in the High Country.

Work hours are 7.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday

Whitlands Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. Remuneration will be commensurate with experience.

Please call Sarah Carroll on 03 5729 7577 for more information or submit your resume and cover letter to hr@superaxe.com.au

Nursery Assistant

Part time (30 – 38 hours per week)

The Victorian Alps Nursery is managed by Mt Hotham Alpine Resort, located in Ovens between the picturesque townships of Bright and Myrtleford.

The Nursery is a specialist Australian alpine plant producer and provides a wide variety of high quality indigenous alpine, subalpine and lowland tubestock to a variety of land managers and Alpine Resorts to support environmental restoration programs.

As a Nursery Assistant, you will have the opportunity immerse yourself in the propagation of flora that is unique to the alpine region and assist the Nursery Manager to deliver day to day tasks across all areas of nursery operations. This position offers fantastic opportunities to learn and progress in a unique environment.

The successful candidate will ideally have trade qualifications in Horticulture or a similar equivalent field, however support to the correct candidate to undertake training to support the role will be considered. Further information about the role can be obtained through seek.com. For a copy of the position description or any questions relating to the role, please email: rebeccaread@mthotham.com.au.

Please submit your current resume and cover letter outlining your interest for this role via SEEK or rebeccaread@mthotham.com.au.

Applications close 5pm, Friday, August 25.

TYRES new and secondhand, trailer, rims, wrecking. New hours 9am to 5pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 44 Newman Street, Wangaratta. Ph 0428 257 221. Adzam Tyres.

OLD cars wanted, cars removed. Ph 0435 083 115.

Medical Practice requires a

PART-TIME MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST

(Three permanent days plus relieving) Previous General Practice experience advantageous but not essential as training will be provided. Good communication and interpersonal skills essential.

Please forward CV with minimum 3 referees to: admin@wangmed.com.au Or Business Manager PO Box 693 Wangaratta 3676 Applications Close: August 16, 2023.

WE ARE HIRING DIESEL MECHANIC

The Role:

5722 9255

admin@fallons.com.au

Required in Wodonga. Inventor and AutoCAD experience essential. Remuneration negotiable. Email resume to tonyadamo@bigpond.com. Contact Tony on 0417 034 421. Find the

Much loved wife of Roland (Roly). Mother of Barbara, Lewis, Matthew, Andrew and Jill.

Mother-in-law of Mandy and Scott. Good friend of Simon (dec). Nana of Brooke, Luke, Molly, Jai, Constance, Emily, Jessica, Shelby, Tyler, Bailey and Shawn. Great Nana of Grayson. Dearly Loved By All, Will Be Sadly Missed.

BINKS, Bronwyn.

After a long hard battle.

Loved mum of Barb, friend of Simon (dec) and Nana of Emily. An absolute fighter to the end. At rest now.

CLUGG, Ellen. The president and members of the Wangaratta Senior Citizens Club were saddened by the passing of Ellen. Deepest sympathy to family and friends.

CLUGG, Ellen Elizabeth. 5/5/1925 – 4/8/2023

Mum of Faye. ‘Mrs Clugg’ of Alan. Loved Gran of Ben and Eliza. Great Gran of Jimmy and ‘our baby’. An amazing life lived with purpose, gratitude, grace and love. Our beautiful family treasure xx.

GRADY, Margaret Esther. 12/8/1934 - 30/7/2023

Members of Wangaratta Appin Park Probus Club are saddened at the passing of Marg, an active foundation member.

Condolences to Marg’s family.

Hahne, Helen Fay. It is with great sadness that the Hahne family announces that Helen Hahne died peacefully among close family at home, with her animals by her side on August 9, 2023. Much loved Mother of Sharon and Colin. Wife of Harold for 58 years. Mother-in-law of Peter and Lea. We will all miss you.

HAMILTON, John Henry. 14/4/1956 - 2/8/2023

Son of Barb and Doug (both dec).

An exceptional brother of Marg, Liz and Doug, friend to many. Lived a humble and full life with dignity and warmth, making much of every opportunity. You taught us how to live a good life. We will miss you greatly.

widest range of jobs in the North East at

FUNERALS DEATH NOTICES

MASTROIANNI, Andrew Justin “Drew”.

27/10/1985 – 5/8/2023

The family of Andrew Mastroianni is saddened by his sudden passing on August 5, 2023.

KALKANDIS, Peter.

4/8/1962 – 5/8/2023

Peter’s family are saddened to announce his sudden unexpected passing surrounded by his loving family at Mt Hotham. Loving husband to Michelle. Adored father and father-in-law to Chris, Ali, Katie and Dayne, Michael and Gaik, Tamika and Curtis, and Ryan. Cherished Papou to Max and Mackenzie. Without goodbye, you went to sleep, But precious thoughts are ours to keep. A tender thought that brings a tear, A silent wish that you were here.

KALKANDIS, Peter.

Passed away on August 5, 2023, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Father of Chris, Ali, Katie and Michael and Papou to Max.

Thank you for being an incredible father. You were loved and adored by everyone who met you.

Your smile and laughter brought us all happiness.

KALKANDIS, Peter.

Much loved son of Mary and Peter (dec).

Much loved brother of Katrina and Theo, their families and extended families.

Our hearts are broken, taken away from us way too soon.

Love you forever, always in our hearts.

MacDONALD, Bevan.

You fought so bravely right to the very end.

RIP.

~ Shayne, Jodi, Luke and Charlotte.

MacDONALD, Bevan. The City Colts Cricket Club expresses its condolences to the MacDonald family on the passing of Bevan.

All rounder. Played 191 games for the Colts between 1990 - 2009.

Personal Notices

Dearly loved son of Carmel and Pat (both dec).

Loving brother of Angela, Mirella, Michael and Julian, Lina and Rita. Loved uncle of Sarah, Amber and Nathan. Great Uncle of Lucas and Adeline. We couldn’t say a last farewell, Or even say goodbye.

For you were gone before we knew, And only God knows why. You left a space no-one can fill, We miss you and we always will.

Please see later paper for funeral details.

MASTROIANNI, Andrew Justin “Drew”.

27/10/1985 – 5/8/2023

You are missed each and every day, for you are someone special who meant more than words can say. My heart is so broken. Love you so much.

~ Your loving sister, Lina xxx.

McCOLL (nee Hector), Linda.

2/5/1955 – 7/8/2023

Daughter of Alex and Betty Hector. Loved sister of James, Christine, Sandy and Families. Loved mother of Jody, Ben and Ashley. Loved Nanna of 9. Finally at Peace.

RICHENS (Abernethy), Barbara Anne.

3/2/1941 – 8/8/2023

Passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side.

Aged 82 years. Forever in our hearts.

SANDERS, Julie Margaret. “Jules”.

Taken tragically on Wednesday July 19, 2023. Aged 60 years.

Much loved Mum of Raymond, Kirsty and Aleeysha.

Nanja of Cierra, Harper and Rydah. Missed by her Fur Babies, Kizzi, Abbey and Lucky.

Mum, you always did your very best, Your heart was true and tender. You simply lived for those you loved, And those you loved, remember.

VANTHOFF, Merle Lorraine (Marks).

15/10/1932 – 8/8/2023

Loving wife of Carl (dec).

Mother to Kerrie (dec), Peter (dec) and Jenny, Leanne and Peter and Melissa. Adored grandmother of Jade and Mitch, Matthew and Gemma, Damian and Kate, Carly and Jim, Jessica and BJ, Tiarne, Jesse and Lauren.

Much loved Uber to 13 Great Grandchildren.

Reunited with Carl, Kerrie and Peter.

WHALLEY, Robert Storey

Rob/Bob.

Aged 77 years

Died at home peacefully after a long illness, surrounded by the love and prayers of family and friends both near and far.

Beloved husband of John.

WHALLEY, Robert. Deepest sympathy to John on the loss of your beloved husband Rob. ~ Members of Milawa Oxley Rotary Club.

McCOLL

Linda’s funeral will be held at North East Funerals, 184 Greta Road, Wangaratta at 10.30am on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, followed by private cremation.

RICHENS (Abernethy)

The funeral service for the late Barbara Richens (Abernethy) will be held at the Chapel, Conway Funeral Home, 20 South street, Wodonga at 10am on Friday, August 18, 2023.

At the conclusion of the service the cortege will depart for the Eldorado Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Eldorado.

FUNERALS

BINKS

A funeral service to honour the life of Bronwyn Emily Binks will be held at Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral. Cnr Ovens and Docker Streets Wangaratta at 2pm on Friday, August 18, 2023, followed by interment at the Wangaratta Lawn Cemetery.

HAHNE

The service to celebrate the life of Mrs Helen Fay Hahne will be held in the Mason Park Chapel, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta, on Monday, August 21, 2023, commencing at 10.30am. Burial will follow at the Wangaratta Lawn Cemetery.

HAMILTON

A service to celebrate the life of John Henry Hamilton will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 10am at Croydon Uniting Church, 6 Tallent Street, Croydon.

A burial to follow the service at Eltham Cemetery.

KALKANDIS

The funeral service in celebration for the life of Peter Kalkandis will be held in the Mason Park Chapel, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta on Thursday August 17, 2023 commencing at 2pm. No flowers by request.

To view the livestream of Peter’s service, please visit: www.masonpark.com.au

Wodonga and Myrtleford Ph: (02) 6024 1093

SANDERS

The Service to Celebrate the Life of Miss Julie Margaret “Jules” Sanders will be held in the Mason Park Chapel, 95 Mason Street, Wangaratta on Tuesday August 15, 2023 at 10.30am. A private cremation will follow.

online in memory of Jules to Iron Dog Rescue at www.irondogrescue.com.au.

Julie’s service can be viewed via Livestream at www.masonpark.com.au/live-streaming

VANTHOFF

Requiem mass for the repose of Merle’s soul will be offered at Our Lady’s Catholic Church, corner of Murdoch Road and White Street, Wangaratta on Thursday, August 17, 2023 commencing at 1pm, followed by interment at the Wangaratta Lawn Cemetery.

WHALLEY

A funeral experience... not just a funeral service

Mason Park Funerals

The only family owned funeral home in Wangaratta

Proud Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association

All Hours 5722 2525

IN MEMORIAM

FAWKES, Bill (William).

22/4/1930 – 10/8/2017 Dad, Your memory is a loving thing, It lasts the longest day. It can never be spent, Never be lent, Never be taken away. Dad we will always be together forever, never apart. Maybe in distance but never in heart. Wish you were here.

~ Love always your daughter Sharon, Bruce, Tamara, Gav and Penny, Mitchell Abbey, Louis and Olivia, Georgia xxxx.

GRINTER, Clarrie “Sparra”. 11/9/1937 – 3/8/2022

One year has gone, Others will pass, But the precious memories of a loving and caring husband, father and Grandad will forever last.

~ May, Debbie and Ronald, Ian and Robyn, Casey and Frazer, Tyson and Annie, Luke and Anique, Jordan and Jorga. So sadly missed.

HOLDEN, Tony. 12/8/2022

A year has gone by. Your spirit will live on forever in our hearts.

~ Love always Lenny and Susan.

SPORT

Rangers to travel far and wide

WITH only two games to go before the finals in the seniors’ games of North East Baseball and this Sunday is the last one for the two junior age groups, Wangaratta Rangers travel to Porepunkah to play Panthers in all grades and their second B Grade team meet Bears at Springdale Heights, Lavington.

Last week in the C Grade game, Rangers played Bears with both teams scoring seven runs in their first turn at bat. Bears added three more runs in the second innings, while a change of pitcher by Bears brought Rangers run to a holt finding it hard to get a runner on base in the next two batting digs.

Bears won 11 runs to Rangers seven.

In the first B Grade game, Rangers Grey played Wodonga Warriors.

Warriors left bases loaded in their first innings, then got

SCOREBOARD

Rangers first three batters all out, all hitting straight back to the pitcher, who threw direct to first base for the outs. Warriors scored four runs in their second turn at bat before a change of pitcher by Rangers halted their run rate.

Rangers Grey brought in two runs in their turn at bat then added another seven in the next to run out winning nine runs to Warriors five.

In the other B Grade game, Rangers Orange played Bears in a tight game where runs were hard to come by, but Rangers got the break in the eighth innings when Jason Jonker (who pitched the full game for Rangers Orange) struck out the last two Bears batters to win by three runs.

Chris Ponting was Rangers best with the bat having three safe hits.

Rangers Orange won seven runs to Bears four.

There was no A Grade in

JUBILEE GOLF CLUB

SATURDAY, August 5 - Stroke

Winner: Yogi Naidoo 71. Runner

Up: Frances Duffy 77c/b.

Ball Winners: Angela Mitchell 77.

Judy Fogarty: 81c/b.

Saturday, August 5 - Stroke

A Grade Winner: Charl Demink 70.

B Grade Winner: Rick Harnwell

73. C Grade Winner: Zac Guilfoyle 71.

D Grade Winner: Thomas Johnstone

67.

Ball winners: Peter Ford 70, Bill Slade 71, Gordon Paterson 71, Alex jones 73, Jack Reiter 73, Jeff Elliot

73, Adrian Speziale 74, Gary Butler

74, Zac Hedin 74, Mark Drage 75, Doug Ritchens 75, Andrew Walker 75, Mathew Nunn 75.

Super Nine

Club Shirt: Noel Holmes 22.

Aroma Deli: Glenn O’Connell 22.

2 Balls: Zac Guilfoyle 21.

Sunday, August 6

Foursomes and stableford

Winner: Foursomes: Shane Andrewartha and Steve Fisher 83.

Foursomes Net: Glenn Ryan and Glenn O’Connell 79.

Stableford: Joe Marjanovic 36.

Ball Winners: Malcom Ellis 34, Andrew Senkic 34.

NTP: 4th Andy Senkic, 8th Tashi Tenzing, 13th Jack Reiter, 17th Jack Reiter.

Monday, August 7 - Stableford Vets

A Grade: Pat Ernst 34. B Grade: William Slade 35. Ball Winners: Peter Geldens 34, Ian Mills 32.

Tuesday, August 8

Captains v Presidents Day

Presidents Team defeated Captains Team 138 - 115

Captains Winner: Di Murphy 29.

Presidents Winner: Liane Graham

33. Ball Winners: Vicki Moorhead (2) 32, Marillyn Pane 28.

NTP: 4th Di Murphy, 8th Vicki Moorhead, 13th Di Murphy, 17th Di Murphy.

Wednesday, August 9 - Stableford

A Grade Winner: Joshua Trimble 16c/b.

A Runner up: Matt Walker 16. B

Grade Winner: Mathew Nunn 19. Runner up: Allen Mercer 15.

Rangers vs Bears as they both had five of their players and Warriors had two, Panthers one to make up a representative team to play in a carnival in Sydney where they were invited to play and to have back up for the future.

The Wangaratta Baseball Softball Sports Club will be holding an information day on playing women’s softball over the summer tomorrow (Saturday) at the clubrooms at Targoora Park on Murdoch Road starting at 12pm.

All interested persons welcome to attend and voice

This Sunday’s Round 14 games:

A Grade

Porepunkah Panthers vs Wangaratta Rangers Black at Porepunkah.

Nth Albury Bears vs Wodonga Warriors at Springdale Heights, Lavington.

B Grade

Porepunkah Panthers vs

WANGARATTA GOLF CLUB

Women’s Competition: 18 Hole Stableford - August 1

Winner: Jan Hill 34 Points. Runner Up: Dona Harper 33 C/B Points.

Ball Winners: Jill Halbwidl, Julie McInnes, Barb Woodward, Carol Coghill. NTP 11th: Dona Harper.

Mens Competition: 9 Hole Stableford - August 2

Winner: Phillip Winnell 17 Points.

Runner Up: Ray Hutton 16 C/B Points.

Ball Winner: Sam Antonacci, Mark Stephens. NTP 13th: Phillip Winnell.

Mens Competition: 18 Hole Stableford

Winner: Michael Cordier 43 Points.

Runner Up: Michael Webster 38 Points.

Ball Winner: Dean Campagna, Xavier Maher, Glenn Burns, Neil Membrey, Denis Hill. NTP: 4th Denis Hill, 7th Dean Campagna, 9th Michael Cordier, 11th Geoff Webster, 13th Dean Campagna.

Women’s Competition: 9 Hole Stableford - August 3

Winner: Barb Thomas 21 Points.

Runner Up: Barb Woodward 16 Points. NTP 13th: Liz Madden.

18 Hole Stableford

Winner: Dawn Fleet 32 C/B Points.

Runner Up: Jan Hill 32. Ball Winners: Dona Harper.

Men’s Competition: 18 Stableford

August 5 - Mens’s Monthly Medal

A Grade Winner: Dean Campagna

68 Nett. A Grade Runner Up: Robert Holloway 69 Nett.. B Grade Winner: Mark White 68 Nett. B Grade Runner Up: Steve Bismire 72 C/B Nett.

Ball Winners: Brannan Duffy, Scott Thomson, Craig Tafft, Trevor Cooper, Bob Murray, Alastair McLean, Graeme Ray. NTP: 4th Dean Campagna, 7th Chris Martens, 11th Dean Campagna, 13th Graeme Ray, 16th Glen Seymour.

Secret 6: Scott Thomson.

Raffle Winner: Neil Mckinnon.

TARRA GOLF CLUB

TARRAWINGEE Golf Club Results

Saturday, July 29.

The members played a three person ambrose which was won by Mark

Wangaratta Rangers Orange at Porepunkah.

Nth Albury Bears vs Rangers Grey at Springdale Heights, Lavington.

Wodonga Warriors vs Benalla Bandits at Gayview Park, Wodonga.

C Grade

Porepunkah Panthers vs Wangaratta Rangers at Porepunkah.

Nth Albury Bears vs Wodonga Warriors at Springdale Heights, Lavington.

Under 15

Porepunkah Panthers vs Rangers at Porepunkah.

Wodonga Warriors vs Benalla Bandits at Gayview Park, Wodonga. Bears have the bye.

Under 12

Porepunkah Panthers vs Wangaratta Rangers at Porepunkah.

Wodonga Warriors vs Nth Albury Bears at Gayview Park, Wodonga.

Nolan- Manny Tanirau and Angelo Garraffo 68-8-60 there were no nearest the on the day.

Monthly Awards: Captains Trophy Leo McCoy. Birdies Lucia DaPos. Gobblers Angelo Garraffo.

Results for Saturday, August 5.

The Monthly Medal was played for by the members with the winner being Mark Nolan 87-11-76.

The daily winner was Ken Miller 8618-68 ball winners were Pete Nolan nett 70.

Angelo Garraffo nett 73.

Nearest the pin 2nd Mark Nolan.

Ladies also played a stroke event which was won by Lucia DaPos 10235-67.

Nearest the pins for the ladies was Lucia DaPos on the 8th which was also the Hollywood Award for the month.

Members both men and ladies will be playing for the founders trophies on Saturday, August 12.

Hit off times for Saturday’s are 11:30am roll up for a 12noon start, we ask members to be early to enable the days program to be organised.

New members are always welcome at the Tarrawingee Golf Club, the joining fee is $100 the contact number is 0428122590 or by contacting a member of the club.

Ladies golf on Tuesday, August 8 Tarrawingee lady golfers braved the adverse course conditions on the composite to play a Secret Pairs Stableford event.

The winners were Audrey Bradfield and Lucia DaPos with 19 points.

The runners up were Dianne McLaughlin and Joan Quarrell with 16 points.

Given that the composite course will still be in play the ladies will have another fun day next week.

CROQUET

Results for Monday, August 7 are as follows:

Gabi Heywood and Joan Guttormsen d Wendy Waddington and Elaine McDonald 7/3, Susan Fischer and Maureen O’Keefe d Andy Barbero and Margaret Bennett 7/5,

2023 softball launch

AN information session for the upcoming 2023 Wangaratta Rangers Softball season will be held on August 12 from noon at Targoora Park in Murdoch Road.

Softball coordinator Lauren Dinsdale said a series of successful ‘come and try’ sessions last season initially attracted a great turnout.

“We’re hoping to get enough interest now to form a few teams to join in the league,” Dinsdale said.

“There’s mixed juniors; under 12s, under 14s and under 16s, and women’s and men’s senior teams.

“No experience is necessary, we just need

Robyn Muller and Christine Ireland d Wendy Burgess and Yvonne McLaughlin 7/1, Joan Dyson and Carol O’Keefe d Gavan Kelly and Elaine Mudge 7/5.

Andy Barbero played well in the Victorian Open Men’s Singles Championship in Melbourne last weekend and reduced his handicap in the process.

Former Wangaratta resident and Wangaratta Croquet Club member Shane Downie won the final 10/9 from Jack Williams of Queenscliff.

On Wednesday, 13 members played with four playing ricochet.

Joan Guttormsen and Andy Barbero triumphed over Lauren Kazenwadel and Terry Wilson 18/14 after two and a quarter hours with Andy achieving two three hoop breaks.

Playing days are Monday, Wednesday and Saturday commencing at 1pm.

Visitors are welcome to come down and enjoy some games with our members.

Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow for the draw to be done.

Late arrivals will be included in the next game.

The club is located at 46 Ryan Avenue, Wangaratta.

For further information please contact president Susan Fischer on 0417217009 or secretary Terry Wilson on 0417326739.

WARBY WALKERS

Saturday August 5, Mt Pilot. Sixteen walkers were to experience a fine day of walking to Mount Pilot beginning at the Yeddonba Aboriginal Cultural Site between Beechworth and Chiltern. A car shuffle was organised at the start, introductions were made and after receiving maps and a walk description we were off.

From the car park at the aboriginal site, we walked along the dirt road to the 4WD Green Break Track. We followed this in a southerly direction with the main BeechworthChiltern Road never far from this track. Morning tea was taken at a suitable sunny spot.

people who are eager to play.

“We have coaches and players who will teach everything needed to know how to play the game

“The whole club (Wangaratta Rangers) is family friendly, I think that’s great.

“We’ve got a number of junior players who parents play in the seniors and even some kids playing alongside their parents in the seniors.”

Anyone keen to learn more about playing softball locally is urged to attend.

Attendees are encouraged to come in active wear and runners to enjoy a casual hit out on the field after the info session.

After some morning refreshments, a gradual ascent of 150m over a couple of kilometres of this track soon had us at Old Coach Road. This road is the direct route for vehicles to the Mount Pilot summit. Green Break Track crosses this road and we ventured on.

Further along, a small stream was easily navigated by all, and it wasn’t long before we reached McGuiness Road. A short distance on we reached Pilot track.

Once we reached the end of the Pilot track, we were only about 500m from the Mt Pilot car park.

We continued along Old Coach Road and then a short climb to the summit was easily navigated where welcoming sunshine and 360-degree views were encountered.

It was certainly worth it.

Hearty lunches were now being consumed by a ravenous tribe.

What can one say about Pat’s incredible afternoon tea? Oh no!! It was in another vehicle back at the start of the walk! So, this meant some walkers departed once they returned to their cars missing the customary afternoon tea, while the others waited and did partake in the age-old tradition. Thanks to everyone who participated in the 11km, three hours walk.

Coming Events

Tuesday, August 15

Friends Loop (includes Alpine Views and Mount Warby) Chris, 0418 503 802.

A medium loop walk of approximately 12k, taking in the Friends Track, Alpine Views Track, and then Mount Warby in the Warby Ovens NP.

Saturday, August 19

Bungalow Spur to Federation Hut, snowline walk Trevor, 0458 361 417.

A hard walk of approximately 18k along the Bungalow Spur Track from Harrietville to the snowline or Federation Hut tucked into the tree line, and return.

The track passes through Alpine Ash Forest to the Snow Gum forest higher up.

Elevation starts at about 560m and climbs to about 1700m at Federation Hut.

JOIN US: Leah Dinsdale and Sarah Warfe (pictured last year) invite everyone to attend a softball information session at Targoora Park on August 12. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Bulldogs aiming for a strong season finish

By NATHAN DE VRIES

SEASON 2023 has been a tough one for the Bulldogs on the footy field.

They’ve conceded 4877 points across seniors and reserves to round 19, with only four wins to the club’s name, but their tenacity and hunger has shone through.

The seniors have an amazing chance to pick up another win tomorrow when they host current wooden-spooners Benalla All Blacks.

The last time these two sides went toe to toe, the Bulldogs came out on top with a 14 point win, a result co-coach Danyon Hearne is eager to build on.

“It should be another cracking match between us – the first time around was a close one, and we’re expecting the same again this weekend,” he said.

“I reckon they’re in the same boat as us, they’ve improved throughout the year.

“I imagine we’ll both be coming in with different sides from the first time we met, but we’re expecting another tough game.

“It would be really pleasing to get a win with our last home game of the year, but I wouldn’t say everything’s riding on us getting a win.

“We’ve been building this cul-

Top of the table A grade clash

By NATHAN DE VRIES

WHENEVER Greta and Milawa face off against each other on the netball court, a fantastic game is guaranteed.

The two A grade sides have been the teams to beat for years, and will square off one more time tomorrow at the Milawa Recreation Reserve before the finals.

The Demons have had the wood over the reigning premiers this year, with Milawa emerging victorious 46-35 in their first encounter back in round 12.

For coach Kerrie Gray, it’s about her side consistently performing at the highest level they can.

“We just want to execute our roles and have consistency in doing that,” she said.

“Although we’re top of the ladder, Greta are such seasoned campaigners – they might’ve dropped the ball a couple of times this year, but they play finals, they’ve got experience, they’ve got depth, they’ve been there and they’ve done it.

“It’s all well and good for us to be sitting top of the table, but if we really want to mix it at the pointy end of the season, we just have to be consistent.”

Despite taking their revenge for

ture where we’re confident that it doesn’t matter how these results go in the last couple of games, we’re setting up nicely for next year and beyond.”

Hearne said the club’s youth had really taken the reins this season.

“Our younger players have all really stepped up this year,” he said.

“A lot of them got thrown in the deep end with the list that we had, but they’re getting better every game.

“Some of them are the leaders this year, which is really pleasing.

“Angus Beck, Brandon Igri, they’ve really stepped up – they’ve taken on the vice-captain roles and filled in those games when ‘Hughy’ (Hugh Amery) was out injured.

“Seth Coonan is a young fella, only turns 18 at the end of this year and from when he came out at the start of the year to now, he’s just got better and better each game.

“It’s very exciting.”

Tarrawingee takes on Benalla All Blacks at the Tarrawingee Recreation Reserve tomorrow, with the reserves game from 12 and the senior hit-out kicking off from 2pm.

In other round 19 matches tomorrow, the Lions head down to Bonnie Doon, Bright plays North Wangaratta at home, the Hoppers face up against Goorambat, and Milawa takes on Greta.

PRECISION: Aiden Bihun. Demons raring to get even with Greta

By NATHAN DE VRIES

MILAWA’S senior footballers know they let one slip against Greta back in round 12.

The Demons led at the first and third break, but failure to convert on their many forward 50 entries ended up spelling the difference, with Milawa falling 7.15 (57) to the Blues’ 9.5 (59).

Tomorrow, Milawa has a shot to get revenge on the top-two side and solidify their form ahead of finals in a fortnight.

“The boys have been targeting this challenge and they’re definitely looking forward to it,” Milawa co-coach Matt Graham said.

“We kicked more behinds than Greta had scoring shots, and unfortunately, you don’t kick goals, you don’t win matches.

“It’s something we’ve definitely worked on, our accuracy and goal kicking, making sure our forward entries are to the right position.

“Over the last five or six weeks, that’s started to turn in our favour, so hopefully that continues on the weekend.

“We get the opportunity to test ourselves against two of the best three teams on the ladder at the moment at the end of the season, and we can see where we’re sitting just before finals.

“It’ll be a good marker of how far we’ve come.”

It’s been a challenging few months for the Demons –while they’ve played well and locked in a top four finish and a place in finals, making sure the list remains healthy has been an uphill battle.

Due to the way the fixture is structured, Milawa’s last scheduled bye was back in round nine, meaning they’ve played the last two months back to back without pause.

“We’ve had to manage a few for probably the last five or six weeks,” Graham said.

last year’s decider earlier in the season, Gray said they wouldn’t underestimate their opposition.

“It was a great win back then, but it’s a whole new ball game on Saturday,” she said.

“Every game is a new game and it doesn’t matter who we’re playing.

“What happened last time will have no impact on our result, you’re not going to get a 10 goal head start because you beat them last time.”

In other matches, Whorouly will

need a win over fourth placed side Bonnie Doon to lock in their finals ticket.

“It’s a game we need to win to stamp our spot in finals so it’s very important we perform at our best,” Whorouly coach Ebony Allen said.

“They got up on us last time we met but if we stick to our game plan and our style of netball, I am confident we can match them well.”

The Bats will need a positive result against the Hoppers at home to keep pace with the top six, with

Goorambat trailing King Valley by four points on the ladder.

The Roos have the bye this weekend, making for a vital final round if the Bats take the win.

Bright and North Wangaratta go head to head at Pioneer Park in what shapes up as an even contest – Bright are coming off the bye and the Hawks pinched their second win of the season last weekend.

The Bulldogs take on Benalla All Blacks and will look to return to their winning ways after losing to the Blues last week.

“We’re the only team this year that doesn’t have a bye in the second half of the season, so it’s been challenging to try and manage everyone, and the same is going to have to happen for the next two rounds.

“Knowing we’ve got that finals spot locked away has made it much easier to manage those that do need a rest.

“We’ll be as strong as we possibly can be on the day.”

Milawa hosts Greta tomorrow, with the senior hit-out between the Demons and Blues set for 2pm.

FIGHTING HARD: Jarrod Everitt and the Bulldogs take on Benalla All Blacks in their last home game of the season tomorrow.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

REMATCH: Alyse Owen and the Demons will look to replicate the result from their last battle with Greta.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Cycling’s best ready for state championships

By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN

SOME of the next generation of Australian road cyclists are descending on the rural city for a massive weekend of cycling.

Just over 200 participants in total will be expected to be riding across the weekend which begins with the Time Trial State Championships on Saturday followed by the Junior Road State Championships and the seniors Ronde Van Taminick road race on Sunday.

Wangaratta Cycling Club secretary Paul Sommerville said it was fantastic for the region to be able to host a feature race on the Victorian

cycling calendar.

“It’s going to showcase all of the up and coming cyclists for the area,” he said.

“Especially in the under 17s men’s which has a very strong field and it won’t be surprising to see some of these riders representing Australia in the near-distant future.

“It is one of the features seeing these guys, like the senior men will be going in excess of 40km/h on their time trial and the under 17s men won’t be going much slower.

“It really is a strong field from the lower age field to the senior field.

“I highly recommend for

Nothing to lose for Devils

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

By WILLSON MACK

WANGARATTA City have nothing to lose when they hit the road to clash with Cobram.

The Devils look almost certain to finish the season in fourth spot with Melrose seven points behind in fifth, but there’s a little more on the line for Cobram with a loss knocking them out of the race for the league title.

The Roar sit just three points behind Albury United and would need to win both their final two games to have a chance of claiming the title if United slipped up.

Wangaratta City assistant coach Terry Masters said irrespective of the ladder position the Devils will be out

anyone in the community if they want to watch some national standard cycling to come out and have a look.”

Local riders from the club, Reuben Smith and Jo Sommerville from the under 19s men and under 17s women respectively, will be ones to watch while Lachlan Stewart in the under 15 boys and Max Holgate from the Alpine Cycling Club will be in the mix.

Feature riders making a start over the weekend include Ivana Cichelli in the masters women, fresh off a UCI Gran Fondo bronze medal in the United Kingdom last week, and Australian prospect Oscar Gallaghar

in the under 19s men.

The time trial will take place starting from the Winton Wetlands hub riding up and back down the Lake Mokoan Road, in varying distances with the senior riders reaching GlenrowanBoweya Road and completing two laps of the 15km circuit.

The road racing will begin with the Australian Junior Road State Championships with the under 11s to under 17s competing, followed by the Ronde van Taminick Road race, which serves as round three of the Victorian Road Series for the senior riders and under 19s. Both races will take place

starting from Glenrowan’s Beaconsfield Parade, going up the Warby Range and Taminick Gap Road, before making their way down the Glenrowan-Boweya Road.

Sommerville said the age groups will complete varying laps of the 21km circuit, with the elite A grade men riding six laps and 126km in total.

“The challenge is getting up the Taminick Gap, then the fast descent down, the Taminick Gap will always test the peleton where it splits up going up the hill and re-forms on the way down,” he said.

“Especially on the last lap it’s where winning moves

will get made going up the hill, where any riders will want to put the effort in to gain an advantage and hold onto that advantage for the last 10km into Glenrowan.”

The time trials begin from 9am tomorrow with the under 11s with the races beginning with the under 15s from 8:50am the following day, concluding with presentations at 3:30pm at the Glenrowan Primary School.

For more information you can visit the AusCycling event guide via the link: https://assets.auscycling.org. au/s3fs-public/2023-08/cccctech-guide-010823.pdf?Versi onId=hcWoK9dAneSc2t2Ftji ph02ONBlhSHPJ.

Lady Devils in box seat for Roar rematch

By NATHAN DE VRIES

WANGARATTA’S senior women’s side will take momentum into their clash with Cobram on Sunday, with last weekend’s 3-1 triumph over the Roar still fresh.

After a four month break between playing each other, a trio of second half goals slammed home the win for the Lady Devils, with a contentious penalty against the only blemish on the match.

Now, Wangaratta FC will head across to Cobram and hope to hand the Roar a defeat in their own backyard.

“They’ll come back hard, I’m sure,” Lady Devils skipper Beth Cope said.

“We had the majority of possession in the whole game and it just felt right.

“It felt like we were linking up, we were on the ball. “They’re a strong, solid side, and we’ll have to look at the tactical side of the game and work around how they structured on Sunday to play them again this Sunday.

“We’ve got a few players still out of the loop, either overseas or with injuries, but we’ll still have a solid side for Sunday’s game.”

Cope said the return of Bianca Mulqueen to the side after almost four months has reinvigorated the squad.

“She’s such a high rated player in the league, she’s just brought back the flair to the side,” Cope said.

“She is lifting, not only her but I can feel the whole team lifting.

“The younger girls coming through, especially Reese Chuck and Ruby Snowdon, I feel like they’re lifting with the pressure coming into finals.”

to secure the points.

“There’s certainly a lot more pressure on Cobram, we can’t go up or down we’re stuck in fourth win, lose or draw,” he said.

“If they drop points they can’t win the league so there’s nothing to lose for us.

“No doubt it’s going to be a hard game though.”

The Devils will see a few players return to the fold with

Stoycho Ivanov and Cooper Patterson guaranteed to return, while Alex Pitt will be a test.

“We’ll get a few players back which is good,” Masters said.

“Stoycho and Cooper will be in for sure and Alex Pitt will be a test but if there’s any doubt for him we won’t push it.

“We should have a strong enough side in to

take it up to them.”

Wangaratta and Cobram’s clashes are always fiery and Masters expects nothing different.

“It’s always an intense game against them,” he said.

“Over the years it hasn’t mattered how either of the sides are going both sides really want to win.

“We’re looking forward to it.”

The Lady Devils will need two strong victories in the dying rounds of the home and away season but can reach as high as second, provided results fall their way.

“We need to keep the winning stride on because if we win this week and the following week (against Albury United) we could be pushing for that second place,” Cope said.

“We do that, and it would give us a bye in the first week of finals which is what we want.

“That’s what we’re pushing for at the moment, these two wins, and hopefully the other games pan out the way we want.”

The Lady Devils take on Cobram

in

on Sunday from 11.20am.

Roar

Cobram

ROUND 21: Erik Ihasz and Wangaratta City meet Cobram this weekend.

PHOTO: Melissa Beattie

Wangaratta Dragons don pink for breast cancer awareness

WHAT a weekend full of pink.

The Wangaratta Dragons supported Breast Cancer Awareness last weekend, with all teams wearing a splash of pink and raised $188 to go towards National Breast Cancer foundation.

The division 3 women had a win against the Wombats 4-1.

The Wombats also wore pink ribbons proudly and donated towards the cause.

Both teams were very competitive, however the Dragons came away with the win.

The under 16 girls embraced the pink day with pink socks, sweatbands and face paint.

Once again, the girls found themselves outnumbered on the field and struggled to get the ball out of the defensive end.

Falcons, without a goalie, had the extra field player and used that to their advantage.

With great teamwork the girls worked on clearing the ball and getting the control back, Ayla McIntyre really stood out with her defensive play and tackling skills.

A great passage of play by Lily Gibb got her through the midfield and to the top of the attacking ‘D’ getting through four defenders and getting the ball into the goal.

With their spot in the finals secure, the division three men were determined to not just sit back and cruise.

Coming up against the Wombats from Albury they were not just playing for the win but playing for the Road Trip darby trophy.

Adding three goals to his season total and extending his lead as highest goal scorer for the men, Stewart Kerr led the attack.

With Alex Ellem and Charles Webster adding a goal each, the Dragons took the winning margin to five.

Of course the scoreline wouldn’t have been possible without the rest of this amazing team.

Xavier Bennett and Sam Couche were, as always, sensational in defence getting the ball out to the midfielders, and Simon Lipshut and Henry Findlay were rock solid through the centre feeding the ball to the strikers.

All in all, the the men proved why they deserve their place in the finals - with three games to go they’re getting excited to see what they can do.

The final home game of the season for the under 16 boys had an early start on Saturday morning, taking on Falcons in Wangaratta.

The boys started off on the front foot early, putting plenty of pressure on the Falcons’ defence.

The return of the two Ollies, Chambers and Fox, had a big impact on the team - Ollie Fox had a strong game on the wing, while Ollie Chambers was strong in the midfield, scoring a great team goal in the third quarter.

Falcons regrouped after the halftime break and changed up their line-up and started to make more attacking efforts against the boys, but Sam Couche, Xavier Bennett, Luke Mercer and goalie Jack Weir were able to repel them.

Jake Lane played his first under 16 game, experiencing the increased speed and skill from his usual under 14 division, and handled himself quite well with a few good touches of the ball.

The whole team played extremely well with plenty of team play, and were able to come away with a 1-0 win.

The under 12 girls had a tough trip to Wodonga to take on top of the table Norths.

The girls had been slowly improving over the past few games and were confident of a competitive showing. They started off well with Isabella Coghetto and Emma Shallue creating many opportunities.

Kiana Lane continued her goal scoring run in the second quarter and the girls regularly penetrated Norths’ defence but could not finish off their work.

Unfortunately, Norths got on top in the final quarter and ran away with a 6-1 victory.

It was a terrific performance by the Dragon girls against quality opposition and if it is an indicator of future performance then more wins are around the corner.

Matildas inspired night at Oxley table tennis

WHILE the Matildas were victorious against Denmark in Sydney, there were also goals being scored at the tables of the Oxley social table tennis competition, where 21 winners toughed it out at Oxley hall.

Shooting from the hip in a desprerado style encounter, Neil Brock and Kate Woodberry fired shots from every angle, targeting Richard Morgan and June Uebergang to bring out their best in both attack and defence.

And while the table took a beating, so did Richard and June, going down 18-20.

Debbie Brunken was in

top form when she and lively Lauren Olsson tore into their contest with every intent of bringing their taller opponents Graham Stephens and Don Heath to size.

As the fellas used their power, the girls used their finesse in the long and tough rallies throughout the game which finally saw Debbie and Lauren standing tall at 20-17.

New to the scene but certainly not new to the sport was father and son duo, Peter and Heath Spring, who sprung into action against young Allister Olsson and old Jason Mullins.

It was a battle of the brave as each pair dished up high velocity efforts, which ended with a 21-20 scoreline.

As expected there was

loud laughter around the tables when Janet Heath and Lucy Uebergang took on the formidable duo, Archie Crispin and Will Bonwick.

There was plenty of action mixed with the noise with each individual’s talents shining through.

Bets were on when Clive Brooker and Manni Poulos lined up the barriers alongside Martin Butcher and Kate Cole in their mile in a minute race to the victory gates.

There was nothing left to lady luck, although she did make an appearance or two in the elongated run around the circuit.

Teenager Phoebe Bosley and the happy wanderer Debbie Brunken paired up against Kate Woodberry and Janet

Heath in he ‘fillies stakes’. It was friendly fire and great entertainment for players and spectators as each player threw everything in their power to come home in front.

Not sure who won.

The night concluded with a cuppa and tucker, and the usual parting words of “see ya next week”.

Adults and secondary school students of all ages and abilities are welcome to join the weekly social competition on Monday night, beginning at 7pm. Bring your own bat, $2 entry and a plate to share.

HITTING IT OFF: Mani Poulos and Allister Olsson taking on newcomers to the Oxley table tennis scene, Pete and Hugh Spring, at Oxley hall on Monday night.

PHOTO: Jason Mullins

ADVANCE: Ellie Samson and JaimeLee Sexton drive the ball forward.

PHOTO: Kylie Samson

Blockbuster ahead as ‘Pies take on Panthers

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

WANGARATTA A grade netballers are set to take on Lavington in a massive clash.

As it stands, the Magpies sit two games clear of Lavington and a win this weekend would lock in second position.

However, the Panthers will be gunning for a win to keep their hopes of leap-frogging the ‘Pies alive and also breaking free from the jam of third to fifth place with Myrtleford and Wodonga Raiders also on nine wins.

The last clash between these two sides was enthralling with Lavington pulling away to a 50-46 victory.

Wangaratta coach Lou Byrne said her side is looking to get one back on the Panthers.

“The girls are definitely looking to make amends for the loss we had to Lavington earlier in the year,” Byrne said.

“The ladder’s really tight so both Lavington and us are looking for a few wins to end the season.

“We’ve got two games left (bye last round) so we want to win the next two and try and build some

confidence ahead of finals.”

Magpies’ defenders will have to be on their guard as they take on Lavington’s teenage sensation Christine Oguche who leads the league’s goal scoring comfortably

Rovers hosts Wodonga in vital clash

By WILLSON MACK

WANGARATTA Rovers

have the chance to break a game clear of Wodonga when they meet at WJ Findlay Oval this weekend.

The Hawks sit in fourth position, a win ahead of Wodonga in fifth leaving this clash a vital one for both teams.

After winning their first five matches of the season, the Dogs have managed just two wins since and have North Albury a win behind them and gunning for the last finals spot.

The Hawks have started to rediscover their early season from in recent weeks despite falling

to the second-placed Albury by three goals last weekend.

Wangaratta Rovers welcomed Tom Baulch back into the side last weekend and are set to be boosted even more with star midfielder Dylan Stone set to return.

In saying that, the Hawks were down to one player on the bench last weekend after Michael Clarke, Will Christie and Lockey McCartney were forced off with injuries.

McCartney looks set for a week on the sidelines due to concussion protocols, while Clarke and Christie will be battling their injury clouds.

WFNC LADIES DAY

with 396 goals.

Meanwhile, Wangaratta Rovers will be eyeing a win over Wodonga at WJ Findlay Oval. Both the Rovers and Dogs have won just the one game this season

with Wodonga’s only victory coming against the Hawks.

Wodonga takes a buffer on the ladder though after drawing with North Albury so a win to the Rovers would get them off the bottom.

GOING AGAIN: Ben Reid has re-signed as Wangaratta coach for the 2024 season.

Reid re-signs for 2024

■ From back page Reid expects the Panthers to come out breathing fire after falling to North Albury by five points last weekend just about bringing their finals hopes to a close.

“Lavington have been a bit up and down this year but they’ll be stinging off last weekend’s loss so I’m expecting a big response from them,” Reid said.

“We might get ‘Grossy’ (Matt Grossman) and Murray Waite back from injury which will be good but ‘Juice’ (Michael Newton) and myself will probably be out for another week.

“With two games left we just want to make sure everyone’s playing their role well and after a good game last weekend we’ll want everyone to back up their strong performances.”

The Magpies will be without both Jackson Clarke and Matt Kelly who will both miss the rest of the season through injury.

HOME GAME

Raising money for Breast Cancer Australia & The McGrath Foundation

$40 per ticket including drink on arrival & nibbles

2pm kick off - watch the footy from the balcony or netball from the marquee

SATURDAY AUGUST 19TH

WANGARATTA ROVERS VS BULLDOGS

Guest speakers Danielle Pelly of Ena Pelly & Kerry Patford from the McGrath Foundation

Music by Antonia Maher Raffle prizes throughout the day

O&M NETBALL

PHOTO: Marc Bongers

BIG GAME: Ellie Cooper and Wangaratta take on Lavington tomorrow.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

INJURY DOUBT: Will Christie is battling an injury cloud ahead of Rovers’ clash against Wodonga. PHOTO: Melissa Beattie

Merriwa Magpies host all abilities football carnival

By CHLOE JAENICKE

THE undefeated Wangaratta Merriwa Magpies all abilities football team will be holding their all abilities football carnival and sponsors thank you day this Sunday.

The Merriwa Magpies will face off against the Shepparton GV Stars, Wodonga Jets, Echuca Rockets and North Albury in the fifth and final carnival of the season.

The team is coached by former St Kilda VFL premiership player Bob Murray and the team manager, John Mullins said the team was eager to play on their home ground.

“The group’s been terrific, we train every Thursday night down at the Maggies ground and even though our carnivals can be three or four weeks apart, the numbers have been pretty consistent,” he said.

“There’s terrific parent support and the team is un-

der the expert tutelage of Bob Murray, the very wellknown ex-VFL St Kilda legend.”

Mr Mullins encouraged as many people as possible to come to the Wangaratta Showgrounds to support all abilities football.

“We’ve put an open invite to anyone in town who’s interested in seeing the all abilities team go through their game of footy,” he said.

“It will be a great outing and what we hope will be a nice spring day and an opportunity to see the all abilities side of the football game and I think they’ll get a nice surprise at how well the groups go about playing their games.”

On the day the Merriwa Magpies will also be debuting their new uniforms that were bought with money raised by one of the players, Daniel Moore.

Daniel raised the money through knocking on the doors of potential sponsors

Demons of 2013 reunite this weekend

By SHANE DOUTHIE

MILAWA Football and Netball Club is holding a reunion this Saturday on the match of the day clash with Greta to celebrate the 2013 premierships.

It was 10 years ago the Demons won six flags in an unforgettable display winning the seniors and reserves in football and all four netball flags. It will also commemorate the 1973 reserves premiership.

All past players and supporters are welcome to attend the festivities which kick off at noon at the

Past Players Bar featuring videos of the 2013 triumphs with a luncheon to be held in the clubrooms at halftime of the senior football.

Photos of the O&K Hall of Fame members from MIlawa, Kevin Allan, Alan Dickson, Neville Pollard, Jeff Clarke, Mark Allan and Brendan Allan will be hung on the clubroom walls.

The festivities will continue after the game with fire drums and entertainment to keep the celebrations going. For more information contact Mark Allan on 0418 573 889.

so that the team could have uniforms that reflect who they are.

“The inspiration I got was from AFL teams in how they all dressed up in professional gear and showing off

all their sponsors and everything,” he said.

“The uniforms have come up unreal we’ve had a lot of positive feedback from our sponsors and also people here at the Wanga-

ratta Football Club.”

Sponsors include Merriwa, Steers.Co, Grimshaw Signs, Wangaratta Toyota, Your Everyday Gourmet, the Wangaratta Football Netball Club, APCO, Cannys, Fallons

Bus Group, Sports Power and Tailor Made Kitchens

Daniel is looking forward to the carnival on Sunday and hopes both the public and sponsors can come along to watch.

“We’ve worked tirelessly week after week to get ourselves ready to go to each carnival,” he said.

“We would like to get as much of the public as we can to come and support all abilities football and thanks all the sponsors for coming on board.”

The first game of the day will be the Merriwa Magpies vs the GV Stars at 10am with games played all day until 2:30pm.

Mr Mullins said their biggest rivals this season have been North Albury, who joined the league this season and will be facing off against the Magpies at 1:30pm.

There will also be a barbecue run by the North East Core Supports and a coffee van.

Milawa senior footy premiership team. INSET: Milawa A grade netball team.

UNDEFEATED: Robert Campbell, Santina Porpora, Kristie Brunnenmeyer, Matthew Bear, Brittany Hall and Daniel Trezise are looking forward to playing in their new uniforms on Sunday.

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

Friday, August 4

Western Bulldogs vs. Richmond (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, August 5

Essendon vs. West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Adelaide Crows vs. Gold Coast SUNS (AO)

Hawthorn vs. Collingwood (MCG) (T)

Geelong Cats vs. Port Adelaide (GMHBA) (N)

GWS GIANTS vs. Sydne Swans (GS) (N)

Sunday, August 6

North Melbourne vs. Melbourne (BA)

St Kilda vs. Carlton (MRVL)

Fremantle vs. Brisbane Lions (OS) (T)

ON YOUR MARKS

WANGARATTA Amateur Swim Club members (from left) Sadie Skewes, Nina Fortaliza and Jasmin Thwaites can’t wait for this weekend’s Victorian Short Course Championships to be held at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre. This year the event will see around 570 swimmers with their families, coaches and officials descend on the city with 34 clubs competing.

■ Weekend wrap up in next Wednesday’s Wangaratta Chronicle.

Reid re-signs for 2024

BEN Reid has re-signed as Wangaratta coach for the 2024 season.

Reid will go on for a third year as coach after signing with the ‘Pies for the 2022 season and taking them all the way to the grand final.

This year’s Wangaratta team will be looking to replicate that feat sitting third on the ladder behind Yarrawonga and Yarrawonga.

Reid said he’s loved his

Ben Reid will go on for a third year as Wangaratta coach gyg

BY WILLSON MACK wmack@ nemedia.com.au

time at Wangaratta.

“Ever since I moved back I’ve enjoyed being a part of the club,” Reid said.

“Living in Bright it’s an hour drive in to Wangaratta so it’s a big task doing it a few times a week and I

couldn’t be more thankful of the help the assistant coaches and players have given me.

“I’m really looking forward to another season.”

Reid joined Wangaratta as a player in 2021 fresh off retiring from Collingwood after 2020’s COVID dominated AFL season.

“It’s been really good returning to grassroots footy, it’s nowhere near

as serious as the AFL but it still has that element of professionalism,” he said.

“In the O&M you have to stay fit and do the work because it is a strong competition, I don’t think it’s too far off the VFL when the top sides in the O&M are playing.

“If you don’t do the work there’s always someone ready to take your spot so I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Despite a number of Magpies’ stars in the twilight of their careers, Wangaratta’s list looks as healthy as ever with five players under the age of 20 playing in the win over Wodonga Raiders last weekend.

“As we saw last weekend we’ve got a heap of young guys coming through,” he said.

“There’s 10 to 12 really

good young players who have played senior footy this year and still have their best footy in front of them.

“For us it’s just as important to promote that talent as it is to get players like Callum Moore in.

“For me I get the biggest kick out of seeing the young guys do well.”

Wangaratta takes the trip up the Hume Highway to take on Lavington tomorrow.

■ Continued page 36

PHOTO: Kurt Hickling